Who doesn’t love
modern technology? Laptops, computers, smartphones, tablets, and myriad other
gadgets facilitate our lives in tremendous ways.
Unfortunately, there
is a rather frightening host of downsides to becoming more tech-savvy.
Take smartphones, for
example. There are over 1.6 million driving accidents alone due to smartphones
— more than 300,000 injuries, and 11 horrible teen deaths every single day.
Today, toddlers,
grandparents, and everyone in between use smartphones, leading to detrimental
effects in health and social skills. There are also many dangers to letting
children use phones that parents and adults should know about.
In an exclusive guide
below, we’ll talk about a few of the most recognized dangers associated with using
smartphones.
From bending the neck
and spine to potentially damaging our social lives, smartphones can take a
greater toll on our minds and bodies than we think…
Scroll on to find out
how using smartphones can gravely affect your life, and what you can do to
remedy this. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Danger #1: Injuries And Accidents
Most of us think that
we’re pretty careful when we go for a ride or a walk outside. In fact, we’re so
confident in our ability to focus, that we often use our smartphones
simultaneously.
The truth, however,
is that this makes us reckless. According to studies conducted by the National
Accident Helpline in the U.K., 43 percent of regular smartphone users have
actually walked straight into a wall or object while checking their phone.
Pedestrians who text
are generally four times more likely to be unaware of street signs and traffic
lights. What’s more, there are over 1.5 million people who end up in the
hospital every year because they dared to text behind the wheel.
Danger #2: Posture-Related Disorders
Many of us suffer
from posture-related disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, even if we don’t
know it.
Maintaining a certain
position for prolonged periods of time can be seriously detrimental to everything
from the muscles and tendons to the nerves.
If you’re looking at
your phone for hours at a time, chances are, your arms are lifted in an
unnatural position, and your neck is bent.
According to Dr.
Joseph Mercola, M.D., an osteopathic physician, those who are fixated on their
phones are more likely to develop pain, muscle spasms, and chronic diseases.
Danger #3: Screen Fatigue
Fixing your eyes on a
small phone screen for long periods of time can certainly be dangerous.
Screen fatigue is an
absolutely horrible feeling. Your eyes, forehead, and temples will throb and
hurt, sometimes for hours on end.
To avoid this, never
strain your eyes for too long, or you’ll be at risk of developing irritating
conditions, like dry eye syndrome.
Danger #4: Reduced Attention Span
In a startling study,
researchers at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that those who use their
phones and listen to people talk at the same time exhibit a 37 percent loss of
brain activity.
Sadly, other studies
have proven the same thing: the more attached you are to your phone, the
shorter your attention span and ability to focus.
This will make you
much less effective at completing detailed tasks, or concentrating on a
conversation.
Danger #5: Sleeping Problems
Many of us take our
phones to bed. Whether it’s to watch a funny video, or perhaps to type that
last email, phone use before bedtime is a common practice.
What we may not
realize, however, is that these brightly lit screens can in fact suppress
melatonin production, and cause a host of sleeping problems, like insomnia.
It can also make you
hyper-alert — but not in a good way.
“Looking at screens
engages you in intellectual activity that is not at all like reading a book. It
puts you in a state of alertness, which is the last thing you want to be before
going to bed,” said Professor Kevin Morgan, of the sleep research unit at
Loughborough University.
Danger #6: Disconnection With Friends And Family
Smartphones can
greatly alter our social behavior. Even though this is a gradual development,
it can still prove to be dangerous.
Many kids and
teenagers lack sufficient social skills because they spend way too much time on
their phones. They become obsessed with their electronics, and disconnected
with the world around them.
Parents, however, can
also be greatly affected by phones, and negatively impact the kids.
“Children learn by
watching us how to have a conversation, how to read other people’s facial
expressions,” said pediatrician Dr. Jenny Radesky.
Danger #7: Identity Theft
Many in the U.S. have
experienced dangers like financial theft, spyware, and leakage of important
personal information because of smartphones.
When you browse the
internet from your phone, you may not always be protected by a firewall or an
antivirus, thereby putting your device at risk.
Because we may forget
to log out on our phones, our many passwords and ID numbers may still be stored
as data on the phone.
A skilled hacker or
strong virus may then very easily steal or leak important information, photos,
and personal data.
Danger #8: Damage To The Spine And Neck
This is what we look
like when we stare at our phones.
The neck inches
forward, the shoulders round or lift upward, and, most notably, the neck and
shoulder muscles spasm and contract.
Until just a few
years ago, the term “text neck” had never been heard of. Today, it’s becoming
quite a severe chronic condition experienced by young and old alike.
Many people experience
horrid back pain and repetitive strain injuries, all because they sit and stare
at their phones for way too long.
Try not to hunch over
your smartphones if you want to avoid pestering muscle pain, and strained
spinal discs.
Please SHARE these crucial tips to using smartphones with friends and family!
