UPDATE: Please check out the end of Real Time with Bill Maher, May 12, 2017, episode. He talks about smartphone addiction and compares them with Nicotine. I’m vindicated!
-Honey Badger
Oh, the Honey Badger is on a rant today. Enjoy!
In keeping with my recent post Tales of the Tinfoil Hat on paying attention to family and friends and appreciating what you have, I feel compelled to write about something that I think has become a scourge to modern society: the smart phone/cellular phone. I feel such a strong aversion to these nefarious devices that I would go as far as to see that they could be the downfall of modern society as we know it. Don’t laugh. Read on.
What prompted this topic of discussion? In the United States, everyone has a smart phone. Some “dinosaurs” have mere cell phones without app capability, but that is pretty rare. Even 80-year old grandfathers are sporting the latest iPhone 7 with ear buds and Bluetooth technology. It should not be news to you that most people are addicted at some level to their smart phones. They won’t leave home without them. They can’t get through a meal without them. They can’t watch a movie, sports event, or wedding without checking them. Some can’t even finish a sexual encounter without a peek. Until recently, I thought this was primarily an American disease. Not so.
I have been observing the same behavior in Africa. When gathering with friends or just observing strangers, I notice the telltale addictive behavior of constantly grabbing the smart phone either to respond to the vibration/beep of an alert or simply to check to see if anyone has called. Many are checking WhatsApp, text messages, Facebook, Instagram, and others. Although it seems to be most prevalent with the 30 and under crowd, and I have seen many in their 40s and older with the same affliction. I watched some Tanzanians’ behavior while at a restaurant last month. One had two phones going at the same time (not sure why), but he was on them almost constantly. The other was alternately viewing YouTube or checking phone messages or text messages. I commented to the younger one about the constant connection to the electronic datasphere and mentioned that “when I was a kid” (blah blah blah), we didn’t even HAVE cell phones. We had land lines–that was it. No Facebook, no texts, no nothing. We had to physically go and call people, and it wasn’t overly frequent, because (of course) our parents put time limits on our phone time. He laughed and said that would never work now.
I explained to this person that we actually survived just fine without cell phones. I mean, we lived! We talked to each other–directly. We got out and exercised. We didn’t constantly text each other with mundane conversations such as the following:
Hi.
Hi.
How are you?
Cool.
Where are you?
Home.
. . . .
WTF???
There are at least two problems with this behavior: the actual addiction problem I mention above and the impact the smart phone has on human relationships. Just search Google and you can find myriad articles discussing the smart phone addiction problem and its recent addition to the DSM psychology manual. Psychologists are actually having to treat this as a mental issue now–like drug addiction. People go through actual withdrawal if you take away their phones. I firmly believe excessive smart phone use has a negative impact on the brain. There are proven studies showing that the light from cell phones and computers has an adverse impact on sleep duration and quality. Not good.
Are you addicted? Take a test. Take your beloved smart phone and lock it up for at least an hour. Better yet, try for a whole day. Note how long it takes before you instinctively reach for your phone to see if anyone has texted you, called you, or posted something on social media. Did you make it past five minutes? 10 minutes? I think you may be surprised at how attached you are to that inanimate piece of electronic chaos.
And of course, there are now many studies outlining the negative impact smart phones have on relationships. In effect, the smart phone has become “the other woman/man”, with the other partner fighting for attention with the inanimate piece of electronic chaos. I see at least two problems: feelings of neglect by the other partner, as well as suspicion. Who is their boyfriend talking to? What website are they on? It breeds distrust and unhappiness. I urge you to read these articles:
Psychology Today Article on destruction of relationships by cell phones
Medical News Article
I can already hear you saying, “but my job requires me to have 24/7 access.” My response is this: I hope you are making a lot of money and that it is worth it, because the damage you may be doing to your psyche and your loved ones may be irreparable. AND YOU CAN’T BUY EITHER OF THOSE THINGS. I am not criticizing at all, because I am guilty of being in this category. But do you really need clients and employers who insist that you be available at all times, including weekends and holidays? In the old days, the office closed at 5:00 or 5:30, and that was it. If there was a problem, it had to wait until morning. There will always be some who legitimately need access at all times, like those in the military, but I think 95 percent of us don’t need to have the cell phone surgically attached to our hip.
Call me crazy, but I honestly think there are going to be serious ramifications from smart phone use. Even now the bad effects are here. Look at Trump–he just can’t keep his hands off of Twitter. He reminds me of an addicted, bratty teenager throwing a tantrum on social media, almost always with poor grammar and spelling. Get a grip, Drumpf. Just once act your age. Oh, right, that will never happen. Sigh.
As a New Year’s resolution, I permanently deleted my Facebook account. At first, I thought it would be problematic. But I actually felt such FREEDOM after it was gone, and I don’t miss it a bit. Although I recognize it and other social media platforms have some value to spread information, I think they are overused and may cause more problems than solutions. I’m not saying you should delete your Facebook account. Just be aware of your usage and what impacts it might be having: intended and unintended.
So here is my advice to you: read my earlier post Tinfoil Hat and examine yourself carefully Are you overusing your smart phone? Do you feel the same connection with friends and family members that you used to feel? Are you too tired to talk with them, have sex with your spouse, etc.? If so, may I gently suggest that you are having a love affair with an electronic device? If so, one day you may wake up to find your smart phone lying your bed stand, but the person you love is no longer lying by your side and is gone forever. And you can’t magically text them back.
I’m not judging. I’m not saying to necessarily get rid of your phone completely. They are extremely handy when you miss your bus and need to contact someone to let them know you will be late. But there are limits. Maybe you keep it for just quasi-“emergencies.” For when you really need it. Not for just inane Seinfeld conversations about nothing.
In closing:
BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. AND EVEN MORE SO, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE. DITCH YOUR FUCKING SMART PHONE (OR AT LEAST CURTAIL YOUR USE IF YOU THINK YOU ARE AN OVERUSER). YOUR PHONE DOESN’T LOVE YOU OR EVEN CARE ABOUT YOU, AND IN FACT, IT JUST TAKES YOUR MONEY EVERY MONTH SO YOU CAN HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING YOUR FACE GLUED TO IT. There is so much more to life than the electrons floating around in your phone, and you are probably missing out on half of it. When was the last time you stopped and smelled the roses? Literally?
I mean it. Get out there today and see what you’ve been missing. And hold onto your loved ones like you are hanging off the edge of a cliff. They may be closer to ditching you than you are aware.
Sound off in the comments. Spread some love today. And yes, I realize that if you are reading this, you are probably using a smart phone. Just be smart about your usage. Ha: I think from now on I’m going to refer to smart phones as dumb phones.
Badger out. Peace.
I turn off my phone or turn it down as much as possible. I also will leave it in the car or in my pocket during a meal out. I realized a few years ago while riding my horse that if I had my cell phone on my person and turned on, my horses reacted differently. While riding, I leave it off and on my person in case I get dumped, and of course I use it to take photos while I’m riding as well.
I too find we are losing our ability to communicate with those directly in front of us at times.
That said, I have also relied upon my smart phone for several important things. For example, when my son was in the military and being shipped to Afghanistan he had several legal documents that we needed to take care of before he was out of country. I drove through an empty parking lot in Orem, Utah looking at my phone trying to find a wi-fi signal as my in-laws don’t have wi-fi and their dial up, well, come on! Anyway, I found a signal, sat in my car, had two apps which made it possible to download the papers, fill them in, sign them, and then ‘fax’ them to the number my son gave me earlier that evening. I couldn’t have imagined even 15 years prior to that moment having such technology in my hands.
Of course, I use my smart phone for frivolous things mostly, but I’m glad I have it most days.