Our faithful friends for more than 20 years have been our cell phones. Our lives, including the way we travel, socialize, and even do business, have been radically altered by them. There are certain major hazards and drawbacks to using a cell phone even with all of its perks. We examine in this paper the possible short and long-term health risks associated with mobile phones as well as other negative consequences that could result from excessive usage of them.
Harmful effects to Health:
- a) Radiation Exposure
The health risk linked to mobile phones most frequently highlighted is radiation exposure. Radio frequency (RF) radiation is a type of non ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Only a few of the medical disorders linked to this radiation include skin damage, cancer, and infertility apart from other disorders. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified RF radiation as a likely human carcinogen, and research on the potential health effects of mobile phone radiation is enduring.
- b) Sleep Deprivation:
Sleep disorders have been linked to the blue light on mobile phone screens. The hormone melatonin, which regulates our sleep cycle, may be prevented from making itself by blue light, according to studies. A chronic insomniac may also be the consequence of the body taking some time to recover from the effects of blue light. Worse quality sleep has also been associated with using mobile phones in bedrooms.Â
- Issues with Vision:
Particularly in long-term and regular users, using a cell phone can impair vision. In addition to physical eye discomfort, digital eye strain can result from excessive blue light exposure and also induce headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain. Additionally damaging the cornea is extended exposure to strong lighting.
Harm to Social Life:Â
- Less Social Skills:
Research indicates that, especially for young people, using a cell phone can be detrimental to social skills. Use of the gadgets excessively can hinder in-person interactions and result in people conversing more online than in person. Lack of interpersonal skills, such as the capacity to interpret facial expressions, detect other body language clues, and develop empathy, can result from this in turn.
- Bullying through the Internet:
A developing issue, cyber bullying is encouraged by mobile phones. It’s threatening, harassing, and intimidating others through internet communication. Particularly for young individuals, cyber bullying can have quite negative emotional, mental, and physical effects. Suicide has been connected to it as well as depression and low self-esteem.
- Accidents
With the increased usage of mobile phones, it has been linked to an increase in distraction-related accidents, both for drivers and pedestrians as well. The danger of accidents is well known to rise dramatically when one uses a phone while driving. Cell phone use also adds to the distractions that raise the incidence of pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Financial Harm:Â
- Higher Prices
Buying and using a mobile phone can be somewhat expensive. Along with the expenses of the device itself, mobile phone plans also include a variety of expenses related to data and text messaging. Furthermore, these might get expensive if you exceed your data or SMS limits.
- Purchases Made Fraudulently:
Additionally prone to fraudulent transactions is the use of mobile phones. Scam artists may target users of mobile phones and exploit their information to access bank accounts or make transactions. Moreover, individuals might be duped into making purchases through mobile apps, such those for in-app games.Â
- Dependency on Mobile Phones
Addiction to mobile phones is a serious issue that may be quite expensive. Overuse of mobile phones can lead to one using them to the disadvantage of their social and professional lives. Financially speaking, this can be rather costly because phone addicts may forget to do crucial chores or lack the drive to succeed in their chosen career.
Conclusion:
In general, the use of mobile phones can pose a range of health, social, and financial risks. Misuse of mobile phones can be harmful even if they have numerous advantages. As such, it is critical to monitor your usage of the gadget and never forget that moderation is essential.
