Cell Phones

Everyone has one. It has no longer become a luxury but is a very big necessity. Its the
frst thing we check when we get up in the morning, and the last thing we look at before we go to
bed. What is it? Our cell phone! But why does society now rely on a mobile phone so much?
What is it doing to the younger generation? and are there any health concerns individuals
should be aware of?
Cell phones are everywhere. We all want the fastest, most expensive, and the coolest
one out there. According to the article How are you dude? half the population of Canada has
cell phones. It also claims that the usage of cell phones has doubled in the last fve years. If
Canadians were asked what is all the craze now a days, it would most likely be a toss up
between the IPhone and the Blackberry. With all the media advertising, and the mobile
companies competing with the biggest and better deals it is easy to get drawn into it all. It may
be hard to believe, but not long ago we were considered lucky to own a cell phone, and you
would rarely see anyone under 18 carrying one. So why all the demand now?
The answer is simple: According to Marshall McLuhan: University of Toronto English
literature professor and a Communications Theorist believes that, in spite of the benefts of
modern media technology, the world would also be forced to deal with its unintended
consequences.
In todays society everyone feels there is not enough hours in the day to get everything
done. It seems harder and harder to get the whole family together for dinner, and even harder to
fnd the time to meet up with a old friend for cofee. Individuals now rely on a mobile phone to
keep in touch with family and friends. With the way the economy is going and the prices of
things on the rise i.e. gas, or a transit pass; It seems easier and cheaper just to pick up the cell
phone and call the person.
Convenience plays a major role on the reliance of cell phones as well. That expression
Their just a phone call away says it all when trying to juggle home, work and/or school. We rely
on cell phones to make sure our kids are safe, check up on family members, and work relations.
With cell phone companies making plans look like great deals with unlimited talk and text it just
seems like the better way to go. They even convince you to cancel your home phone and just go
mobile. In that way everyone can get you at anytime anywhere. Its like we have become a
Slave to our cell phone. With all the added pressure of our daily lives, relying on your cell
phone seems to be the most logical, but what is it doing to the future generation? What are we
teaching our younger generation when it comes to cell phones?
For young people, the cell phone not only contributes to the look of "cool" in the way
smoking once did and perhaps still does for some, but also ofers them a degree of
independence--a way to stay in touch with friends with- out having to check at home for
messages. (Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace). According to Colin Campbells article
How r tinz dude? Researcher and author Nobuo Masataka believes that teenagers behave
like monkeys when it comes to cell phones. The reason, he explains is that cell phones have
given teenagers a freedom from their parents and family life like never before. Teens today feel
like they cant possibly live or function without a cell phone. Texting is also becoming
increasingly popular among teenagers, but it is damaging to their language and vocabulary. It is
becoming alarmingly clear that because of texting, teens are starting to lose their grammar and
vocabulary. Phrases like brb (be right back), ttyl( talk to you later) along with the ever so
popular lol (laugh out loud) are what is appearing on cell phones, in school papers and through
emails.
Parents need to become aware of the new lingo among teens and monitor any strange
behaviour. One problem is that parents feel that because their children have cell phones, there
is no need to worry. I can call them whenever i want, most seem to think. With all the new
technology, teens are engaging in less face to face interaction, and relying on such gadgets like
cell phones, computers and I-Pads for socialization. Some claim that the cell phone, like the
computer and the television, is just another piece of technology that people use--unconsciously,
perhaps--to avoid real intimacy. (Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace) This can lead to
isolation and depression among teens, as well as hinder their social development. Teenagers
also need to become aware of the health risks involved with over usage of mobile phones.
There are times when we tend to take our health for granted. Society along with the
media tries to promote healthy living. We are now told to watch what we eat, get plenty of rest,
and include physical activity in our daily routine. Everything in moderation is the slogan we
hear and read quite often on TV or in the newspaper. The same should also be said for the cell
phone. Startling evidence from scientists around the world has shown that the cell phone does,
in fact, interfere with DNA and the human brain. The trouble is no one is absolutely sure of the
long-term efects because the technology is simply not old enough. (Cell phones: Tomorrows
medical menace (According to the article entitled Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace, In
Canada, the number of cell phone users increased by 13 percent in 2005 to 17 million (McLean,
2006). Individuals that use cell phones at a frequent rate should consider the health risks.
Although, it has yet to be proven that cell phones can cause cancer, there is a link.
According to the article Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace; one of the most
alarming major research studies was conducted in Sweden in 2006. Researchers at the
Swedish National Institute for Working Life looked at 2200 cancer patients and compared them
with an equal number of healthy control cases. Of the cancer patients, 905 had a malignant
brain tumor, and a tenth of these were heavy users of cell phones {usage of at least one hour a
day for at least 10 years). There was also a high incidence of the tumour appearing on the side
of the head that the phone was generally used. Researchers in this study concluded that long-
term mobile phone use raises the risk of brain tumours, especially in people who start using by
the age of 20 (Reuters, 2005). Therefore, Headsets and cell phones with speakerphone
capability are highly recommended. Both allow the phone to be positioned safely away from the
user's brain. (Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace). Thus, making it safer for users.
In conclusion, at any age we must look at our reliance of the cell phone. Having one can
be a positive thing especially if we are ever in an emergency situation. The Problem with mobile
phones is that the negatives outweigh the positives. Society needs to stop looking at the cell
phone as a necessity of life, and start remembering what is most important- which is the health
of our future generation. "It makes some people feel important when it looks like they are "well
connected." (Cell phones: Tomorrows medical menace) It Individuals that continue to use cell
phones at a high rate should know the consequences and consider the options like a hands free
ear piece, or the speaker option on their handset. If all else fails there will always be the old
fashion way, that is using a telephone booth, which can seem like a inconvenience now. But it
might get people thinking of what is more important; that phone call or their life.