Marcello 1

Grace Marcello

Professor Rhonda Jackson-Joseph

English 1302

11 March 2017

Rough Draft

In 2016 it was found that the average age of owning a cell phone is 10 years old (Casino,

Khier). Having a mobile device so young is exposing kids to negative effects. Children are

getting increasingly more attached to their cell phones which is leading to health issues that will

ruin their psychological state of mind. Cell phones should not be used by teens and adolescents

because they cause stress, sleeping disorders, social anxiety and put dangers on themselves and

others.

Stress can be caused by an abundance of things. When it comes to cell phone use, people

often feel attached to their device. One of the consequences of high quantitative mobile phone

exposure include[s] mental overload (Thomee, Harenstam, Hagberg). This mental overload can

be from keeping up with multiple social media accounts and continuous communication through

messages. Overall accessibility has also been noted as stressful, like feelings of guilt due to

inability to return all calls and messages (Thomee, Harenstam, Hagberg). Stress can also be

caused by conflicts over messages and social media. Not having the right image on social media

has been an issue with teenage girls. Today girls make their social media accounts an example

of the most successful social media celebrities (Sales, Nancy Jo). Kylie Jenner, for example, has

created an image for herself that many teens want to copy to be labeled as pretty. Having the

image to live up to has created a self-doubt in young girls that they cannot live up to her image.

These different causes of stress effect the body and the psychological health of an individual.
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High stress levels can affect test taking, relationships with friends and family members, and can

in some cases cause illness. Cell phone use for teens and adolescents is a good way to cause

stress in some circumstances, and with stress comes other health problems.

Adolescents are using their phone all day, every day and this can affect a childs ability to

get enough rest. Teens and younger, need about 9 total hours of sleep to be productive the next

day (Vemon, Barber, Modecki). More time spent accessing social media and texting, less time is

spent getting adequate sleep. Every individual has a biological clock called the circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm will adjust itself based off when you go to bed and the average time you

wake up. This rhythm is also based on the exposure to light. Harvard Health posted an article that

discusses how a hormone called melatonin can influence circadian rhythm, and melatonin

secretion is suppressed with more exposure to light (Blue Light Has a Dark Side). With more

light exposure, secretion of melatonin will decrease and the bodys biological clock is negatively

affected and sleeping patterns are disrupted. Sleep is directly tied to productivity in all areas. For

teens school is a big part of their daily activities. School is an important piece of a growing mind,

and spending more time on the cell phone and exposure to light cause disturbances in an

adolescents ability to learn. As cell phones take away from sleep, students become more tired

during the day, taking away from focusing on material. It has also been proven that without sleep

people are less motivated. Having a cell phone has disrupted teens sleeping schedule. By

checking their phone before bed, light can change the circadian rhythm and take away from a

teenagers ability to focus and learn in class. Limiting cell phone time can positively effect an

adolescents productivity in school.

Increased time spent on instant messaging and social media also plays a negative role in a

teenagers life. Spending more time on a cell phone takes away from face-to-face interaction
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between youth around the world. Too much communication via texts and cell phone are causing

social anxiety. Technology is a way to hide yourself behind a screen and avoid interaction that

might be difficult. Someone with social phobia is able to rely on contact through a cell phone and

it is taking away from their ability to interact in the real world. About 54 percent of teenagers use

the cell phones for texting, and because of this number technology is a large part of this

generations social and emotional development (Bihal, Sisman). Social interaction in person is

important to grow healthy relationships. Young adults focused on their internet conversation will

have troubles in situations like ordering food or even interviewing for a job. Texting and using

social media is taking away from an adolescents ability to make and connect with people in

public.

However, some argue that cell phone uses are a great addition to communication amongst

everyone. Being able to text your mom where you are, saying hello to an old friend, or meeting

new people is a great addition to the world. When in an emergency, a cell phone is an easy access

to keep updated or even to reach out for help. Parents tended to argue that they give their child a

phone in case there is a situation where the need to contact an adult or even the police. While this

is smart, adolescents are using their phone for more than an emergency. Social media is used

almost as much as texting on a cell phone. Stalkers will create random profiles to reach out to

innocent and use social media to track people of all ages. The famous Instagram allows an

individual to post a location with their image. Giving people this information puts them at risk of

robbery, kidnapping, rape or murder. Cell phones are an open door to the whole world and teens

as well as kids should be aware of the dangers that lie behind their access.

In 2014, it was found that 3,179 people were killed and another 431,000 were

estimated as injured in crashes associated with distracted drivers (Burnett, Jennifer). Distraction
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can include calls and text messages, as well as other occupants like eating or drinking. Teenagers

can legally get behind the wheel with a permit or a drivers license. Giving this responsibility to

teens should be evaluated based on their dedication to safety. The University of Michigan

Transportation Research Institute found that of all teenage drivers, 25 percent were answering

their cell phone at least once each time they are behind the wheel (Burnett, Jennifer). Young

drivers who answer the phone are not only risking the lives of others but their own life too.

Without having a phone strapped by their side, teens can prevent many crashes associated with

distractions.

Technology has consumed todays world. More people spend time on the internet, texting

or searching through social media than going outside or having real life interactions. Teens and

younger are constantly using the cellular device, and yet most do not know the negative health

issues that come with using a cell phone. Stress from availability to others on a phone and from

the need to meet a certain social status can mentally abuse the body and cause depression or

illness. Light from a mobile device before bed can mess with the bodys biological clock and

contribute to lack of motivation and decrease in productivity both in school and out. Teenagers

are also gaining social anxiety as they take away from their face-to-face interaction and put that

towards time on their screen. Although many believe that a cell phone is a great key in

communication, there are also dangers. Stalkers across the world search for teen and children

who have posted about their home and family. One of the biggest responsibilities as a teenager is

driving a car, so many accidents are cause by using a mobile device instead of focusing on the

road. Time spent away from cell phones can benefit the growth of a teenager in every way.

Teenagers should put more time into communication in the real world to better their health and

future.
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Works Cited

Bihal, Sisman, et al. Social Anxiety and Usage if Online Technological Communication Tools

among Adolescents. Journal of Economic & Social Studies (JECOSS), vol. 3, no. 2, July

2013, pp. 101-113. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=bth&AN=90506680&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.

Blue Light Has a Dark Side. Harvard Health, Harvard University, May 2012,

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side. Accessed 20

Mar. 2017.

Burnett, Jennifer. Texting While Driving in 2016. Knowledge Center, The Council of State

Governments, 27 July 2016, http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/content/texting-while-

driving-2016-0. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.

Casino, Khier. Never Too Young: Average Age Of Kid For Getting First Phone Is Now Only

10.3 Years Old. Tech Times, Tech Times Inc., 20 May 2016,

www.techtimes.com/articles/159793/20160520/never-young-average-age-kid-getting-

first-phone-now-10.htm. Accessed 11 Mar. 2017.

Sales, Nancy Jo. How Social Media is Disrupting the Lives of American Girls. Time, vol. 187,

no. 6/7, 22 Feb. 2016, pp. 26-27. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112915757&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.

Thome, Sara, et al. "Mobile Phone Use and Stress, Sleep Disturbances, and Symptoms of

Depression among Young Adults - a Prospective Cohort Study." BMC Public Health, vol.

11, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 66-76. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-66. Accessed 11

Mar. 2017.
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Vernon, Lynette, et al. Adolescent Problematic Social Networking and School Experience: The

Mediating Effects of Sleep Disruptions and Sleep Quality. Cyberpsychology, Behavior

& Social Networking, vol. 18, no. 7, July 2015, pp. 386-392.

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=pbh&AN=108329785&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.