My Smartphone is Taking Over My Life

Every once in a while, my wife and I go to a restaurant.  My Daddy job is to ask the host or hostess for a table.  After having done so, I go and sit down in one of those super-uncomfortable seats and realize nobody is talking to each other.  Typically, everybody has their smartphones out and is texting.  Nobody talks to each other.  Psychologists and researchers are now beginning to study the effects of the use of smartphones on brain functioning.  Digital wellness is a new area of study.  In fact, Liberty University has recently started the first Center for Digital Wellness.  Many other universities will surely do the same thing soon.  So why is it that unchecked smartphone use is so problematic?  I suggest several reasons below.

Unchecked Smartphone Use Affects Brain Health

It’s just now becoming clear how technology and smartphones in particular, affect healthy living.  What is clear is that the smartphone revolution is completely out of control.  It’s also clear that it’s affecting brain health.  Smartphone use has contributed to increases in depression.  Although not exactly the same, smartphone use causes dopamine to be released in a similar way as alcohol and drugs.  This release of dopamine drives smartphone users towards increased use.

Unchecked Smartphone Affects Emotional Health

Unchecked smartphone use can affect how emotionally healthy we are as well.  Since the advent of smartphones, there have been increases in narcissism.  According to Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd, narcissism has increased by 30%.  Yikes, that can’t be good for us either individually or collectively.  One obvious implication of smartphone use and the increase of narcissism is the prevalence of selfies.  There was a time when the idea of taking pictures of yourself would be outlandish.  However, today it is common for people to have a smartphone and Facebook full of selfies.

Unchecked Smartphone Use Affects Our Connection With Others

Smartphones have negatively affected our health in so many ways and that includes the ability to relate to others.  As smartphone and social media contacts increase, the ability to connect with other decreases.  Another problem with unchecked smartphone use is that it promotes loneliness.  A New York University study suggests that the younger someone is the more they use their smartphone.  They conclude that younger smartphone users use there smartphone on average as much as twelve hours a day.  This degree of smartphone use negatively impacts relationships.

Unchecked Smartphone Affects Physical Health

Not only does unchecked smartphone use affect us emotionally and relationally, but it can have very real physical effects as well.  The dangers of the correlation between driving and texting have been well documented.  Since the increase in the use of smartphones, there has also been an increase in neck and back problems.  The increased inactivity created by smartphones and similar technologies have also contributed to increases in physical health.  One such example is the problem of obesity.

Although it is unclear what the long-term impact of smartphone use is, it is clear that caution is needed.  Making healthy choices means taking into account the ways in which you are influenced by the people and things around you.  This should include considering what impact your smartphone use might have on you.