Introduction
Mobile phones are portable devices that are mainly used for communication purposes. The devices have various features that help to support a different kind of communication among individuals. Recently, mobile phones have become part of daily living, increasing the need to own the device. The increased technology has played a significant role in the development of complex features in the mobile phones that aim at ensuring that the devices are effectively used for communication purposes. The primary feature that increases mobile phones' usability is the use of the internet (Chartrand, 2016). The mobile phone devices with internet features are used more than those without the feature considering the advancement in communication.
The use of mobile phones creates a major controversy, which is an aspect that is based on the advantages and disadvantages that associate with the devices. One side of the controversy addresses the pros associated with the use of mobile phones in day to day activities. The first aspect mentioned in this case relates to the fact that mobile phones are highly portable, thus an important feature that increases the usability of the devices (Hardell, 2018). Secondly, mobile phones have a significant role in promoting effective communication between individuals. Considering the nature of the devices, individuals can communicate regardless of the physical distance.
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The proponents of the issue maintain that mobile phone devices keep people in touch, considering the use of different features, such as direct messaging services and phone calls. The third significant aspect that relates to the use of mobile phones involves easy access to the internet. Mobile phones play a significant role in enabling an individual to access the internet without having a computer. Easy access to the internet helps to access different portals and sites such as emails, which are part of our daily lives. Additionally, access to internet enables the mobile phone users to engage in social interactions with individuals across the world thus reducing loneliness. Lastly, mobile phones are considered an effective learning tool considering the different features and applications that can be installed. Students may use different applications in mobile phones to engage in virtual learning, which helps to boost engagement with different learning materials. The use of the devices may enable the students to be more innovative by ensuring that they can explore different materials that relate to their study.
On the other hand, there are major cons that are addressed by opponents on the influences of mobile phones. The first significant aspect of consideration relates to the level of addiction associated with mobile phone use. The different features and applications installed in the mobile phones create addiction and overreliance on the devices. Addiction to mobile phones affects everyone regardless of age, thus indicating the negative influences associated with mobile phones (Chartrand, 2016). Secondly, mobile phone devices are associated with increased cases of cyberbullying, which makes children and adults more vulnerable to cybercrime. The easy access of the internet is a primary factor that increases cyberbullying, considering that the devices allow an individual to connect to the internet without supervision. Another vital issue that relates to the easy access to the internet includes sexual exploitation, which is an aspect that is prompted by different features and applications that allows the users to send explicit messages and pictures (Hardell, 2018). Additionally, the use of mobile phone devices has a significant role in reducing social interactions considering features such as games, which occupy the minds of the users. Lastly, the use of mobile phones is associated with an increased level of cheating in schools, whereby students use mobile devices to find answers in an examination.
Mobile phones have a significant role in society as they enhance communication and social interaction among people. However, it is necessary to focus on the proper use of the devices to avoid the negative impact.
Literature Review
Wireless communication has become one of the fastest ways of communication on the planet to the extent that it is almost impossible to imagine modern daily life without access to a mobile phone. As one of the most successful inventions of the 20 th century, mobile phones have brought convenience to users at an unprecedented level. However, overindulgence in the use of mobile phones has brought about certain negative effects on users that risk destroying social relationships as well as the physical health of the users. Mobile phones have become an essential gadget of communication and also for helping individuals plan their day and meetings. For instance, the different methods of communication ranging from calls, text messages, and communication through social media applications enable individuals to stay in touch with others who are both far and near (Kneidinger-Muller, 2017).
The convenience of mobile phones is mainly the ease of communication through various channels available on mobile phones. The influence of mobile phones is both on the positive and negative sides, depending on how the phones are used by individual users. Mobile phones can be used to pay daily utilities, using various apps available, in addition to providing entertainment and improving communication. At the same time, mobile phones can bring about addiction to their use, which can cause a distraction from carrying out important matters, and they can also be a cause of depression due to the influence of social media especially on teenagers. I seek to examine the influence of mobile phones through examining the works of others, to ascertain both the positive and negative influences of mobile phones in society.
In this literature review, an examination of scholarly work will be carried out on the influence of mobile phones that includes the pros and cons of their usage. Additionally, the literature review will provide definitions of terminologies used in the descriptions of mobile phones, as well as a brief history of mobile phones as a technology. Both positive and negative influences of mobile phone users will be presented as well as the debates that exist among scholars as to what is a positive or a negative influence on the matter. The scholarly work will be used from research carried out by scholars as well as arguments presented by others. Examining the previous work of scholars on the topic is important as it helps the researcher to have a basis for presenting their arguments. The literature review will also help to determine the gap in knowledge, if it exists, on the topic of the pros and cons of mobile phone use among people in society.
The cellular phone technology first emerged in the United States of America. Mobile radio systems have been in use since the 1900s and were used by sailors to communicate from their ships to the shores (Kneidinger-Muller, 2017) Police officers also had the radios installed in some of their cars as early as 1921 in Detroit according to some scholars. After the Second World War, the blending of landline telephones and radio communication was made possible through the commercial mobile radiophone which could allow users to make calls from fixed landline phones to mobile phones around the year 1946. By 1946, there were more than 1.5 million users of mobile phones in America. The mobile phones at that time were large gadgets which consumed an enormous amount of energy hence they were mounted to cars. Scholars like Thomas Farley note that during the transmission of a call, the headlights of a vehicle would automatically dim as the call would consume a lot of energy. More research was channeled into the production of more efficient mobile phones that required less power when sending and receiving signals. In 1973, Martin Cooper who was working with the mobile phone company Motorola was able to make the first cellular call using a handheld cell phone. From then on, modifications have been done on handheld mobile phones to date by various telecommunications companies (Kneidinger-Muller, 2017)
In the present day, mobile phones are largely referred to as smartphones due to their ability to perform various activities. Other than verbal communication, smartphones are now able to be used for playing games, paying bills through various applications, browsing the internet, setting reminders on calendars, connecting socially through virtual platforms where people can engage and share videos and photos, among many other tasks (Volkmer & Lermer, 2019). Teenagers, adults, and the elderly use mobile phones for different purposes. Many teenagers tend to use their phones for social purposes. Adults on the other hand use their phones for communication as well as organizing their schedules, paying utility bills, and in some instances for social media. Most elderly people keep mobile phones for communication and entertainment purposes, but also they use their mobile phones for monitoring their health through various mobile phone applications.
The immoderate use of mobile phones can result in some negative effects socially, as well as have negative health outcomes for users. One of the most researched areas in the health effects associated with mobile phones is their connection to causing cancer. This area raises conflicting ideals and opinions between scientists. However, a section of scientists agrees that cell phones pose a certain risk to the health of users who are constantly using their gadgets. According to research carried out by various scholars, individuals who spend many hours taking on mobile phones, have a 50% chance of developing cancer of the brain (Liu, Zhou, Yang, Kong, Niu & Fan, 2017). The scientists allude this to the fact that the radio waves produced by mobile phones are potentially harmful to the human brain. As a result, the prolonged use of mobile phones during conversations affects the brain.
Other than the risk of cancer, the nervous system is also affected by the extended use of mobile phones against the head and ear. When the nervous system is affected, users may report frequency in headaches, shortness of temper, sleep disorders, depression, and decreased attention spans (Zheng & Lee, 2016). An overdependence on mobile phone use also causes loss of human contact as individuals are accustomed to dealing with others through mobile phones. Social skills begin to reduce and this puts strains on real human relations. Young people and teenagers are especially susceptible to addiction to mobile phones and can even suffer a mental breakdown if access to mobile phones is limited. Addiction to mobile phone use makes individuals lose touch with reality, leading to psychological problems and the inability to deal with face to face interactions with real human beings.
There are also positive effects of mobile phones which cannot be overshadowed by the aforementioned negative effects. In a survey carried out in more than 11 countries, many people have positive attitudes towards mobile phones (Liu, et al, 2017). In many countries involved in the survey, individuals indicated that mobile phones have been good to them for personal use as they have positively impacted education and the economy. One of the positive remarks of mobile phones across the eleven countries is how mobile phones are helping people to maintain contact with friends and relatives using various social media platforms. Additionally, access to mobile phones enables people to remain updated on the latest news and information that might be of concern to them. Access to entertainment services and platforms is one profound benefit of mobile phones in the modern world (Kneidinger-Muller, 2017). Individuals no longer have to wait for their favorite television shows to be aired on television, but one can get access to these shows by a simple touch on their mobile phones.
Additionally, mobile phones have various gaming platforms that help individuals to relax and blow some steam after some stressful or intensive activity. Mobile phones also help in times of emergencies in that individuals can be able to easily communicate and quickly ask for help from relevant authorities. In education, mobile phones can help teachers and students to easily remain in constant engagement. Through the internet, teachers and students can easily communicate by sending out educational materials as well as receiving feedback from students (Volkmer & Lermer, 2019). For individuals who have speech difficulties, mobile phones have revolutionized their communication as they can now be able to text what they need to communicate in case the persons communicating with them are not able to understand them correctly.
The examination of scholarly works on the influence of mobile phones in society shows that indeed cellphones affect a significant part of the lives of individuals in society. On the positive side, mobile phones are excellent in improving communication among people. Communication between people over large geographical distances has been improved by mobile phone use. The history of the innovation leading to the invention of handheld mobile phones indicates that communication is a primary tool in the interaction of human beings within society. Modern cellphones have gone over and beyond meeting the communication need of mobile phones as they are used for other things such as relaxation, education, commerce, and also for security surveillance.
Body
The role played by mobile phones in enhancing communication and social interaction cannot be overemphasized. They have changed the way people communicate and ushered in a new era of instant communication and feedback which has affected every single aspect of people's daily lives. Numerous software applications have been developed to function on mobile phone platforms and with a variety of functions to perform ranging from educational functions, social interaction, medical assistance, general knowledge, business-related functions, and even entertainment among other functions. The range of topics is virtually endless and it is this unprecedented effect on communication and the availability and spread of communication that mobile phones have brought into this new age. However, as with any other invention before or after it, the use of mobile phones has also brought with it negative effects that are either an extreme and unfortunate effect of overindulging on its positive attributes or simply a case of intentional use of the gadgets for negative uses. Despite the integral role played by mobile phones in the communication world today, improper use of gadgets can also have devastating effects on people and society. This analysis details the various uses of mobile phones, their effect on current issues, and also gives practical illustrations of these effects.
Probably the most notable aspect of mobile phones is their presence everywhere around the world which relates to its portability and ease of movement (Hardell, 2018). Before mobile phones, there existed landline phones with a fixed or cordless handset. These fixed phones offered limited bandwidth and restricted one’s movement as they had to stay close to the phone’s fixed receiver thus the portability of mobile phones presented a major change in communication behaviors. For instance, with a mobile phone in their pocket, a person can go to any place so long as the cellphone network is available and they will still be reachable and it won't feel like a burden to them carrying the phone. This is quite beneficial to people since the more portable the phone is, the easier it is for the user to carry it everywhere with them thus increasing the phone’s usability. This portability feature links with several other pros of mobile phones.
Due to their portability and mechanism, individuals can easily communicate with others regardless of the physical distance (Muntermann, Byungtae, and Shim, 2010). Earlier phones needed one to either be in the house, or the office to receive a call, but mobile phones have made all that unnecessary. One can easily carry their mobile phone to a wildlife safari in Africa and still communicate with their office colleagues in New York and have any important conversations that need to be had. This easing of communication between people no matter the distance between them has made the world 'a global village' and made it easier for people to keep in touch bringing joy to many and also helping avoid conflicts brought about by a lack of communication. This ease of communication however has its disadvantages.
Mobile phones may have increased communication between people but over-communication is a negative issue that comes with it. Mobile phones have enabled people to communicate easily but this means that fake news is also communicated quite easily and can reach so many people in a very short period (Tertadian, 2012). The quick spread of messages between individuals has been aided by social media platforms that are installed on mobile phones. A good example is when a scorned partner decides to air their former partner's dirty linen online for all their contacts to see. So many people have mobile phones meaning they can easily be reached by such damaging news showing a negative aspect of the increased communication capabilities. The increased communication capabilities have been greatly aided by the internet which can be looked at as another benefit of mobile phones.
The proponents of the issue maintain that mobile phone devices keep people in touch, considering the use of different features, such as direct messaging services and phone calls. The third significant aspect that relates to the use of mobile phones involves easy access to the internet. Mobile phones play a significant role in enabling an individual to access the internet without having a computer. Easy access to the internet helps to access different portals and sites such as emails, which are now part of our daily lives. Additionally, access to the internet enables mobile phone users to engage in social interactions with individuals across the world thus reducing loneliness. Social media platforms have registered billions of users worldwide attesting to their popularity with people in a bid to keep social interactions going between people across the globe (Muntermann, Byungtae, and Shim, 2010). Some opponents may, however, note this point as a con of mobile phones.
Mobile phones may have helped to increase social interactions between people across the globe, and studies are now showing that people are spending too much time on their mobile phones to access these sites at the expense of interpersonal communication (Tertadian, 2012). Face-to-face interaction is an essential part of effective communication, and the fact that many people are increasingly able to express themselves on mobile platforms means they are shunning face-to-face communication. People are more comfortable on these mobile platforms where they can hide behind their online profiles and be whoever they want to be. For instance, it is now common to enter a room and find people focusing on their phones and having very little interpersonal communication (Tertadian, 2012). Mobile phones were supposed to improve communication between people and not substitute it.
Students may use different applications in mobile phones to engage in virtual learning, which helps to boost engagement with different learning materials. The internet acts as a huge virtual library where various types of information can be found regarding different topics and all this information is available to anyone with a phone that can access these applications and online resources (Nyamawe & Mtonyole, 2014). The use of the devices may enable the students to be more innovative by ensuring that they can explore different materials that relate to their study. Various academic journals are now available online for students and researchers to use in their work as opposed to the traditional libraries which they would have had to visit to find the same information. However, as good as the quick availability of information is to students and scholars, it could also be a con for the education sector.
Mobile phones are associated with increased cases of cheating in schools where students use them to search for answers to assignments and exams online and copy these answers (Nyamawe & Mtonyole, 2014). There is a thin line between using mobile phones to do research online and using them to copy answers from online databases accessible through mobile phones. There have also been instances of students exchanging answers via mobile phones during exams leading to mobile phones being banned from examination rooms. This shows that as much as mobile phones are instruments capable of advancing the quality of education, they can also function to reduce the quality and credibility of education.
Another major con of mobile phones relates to the level of addiction associated with mobile phone use. The features and applications in mobile phones can lead to addictions when overly relied upon by users (Chartrand, 2016). This over-reliance on phones has led to the mushrooming of poor behaviors online such as cyberbullying. The excessive time spent on the phones by both adults and children exposes them to this cyberbullying and also makes them vulnerable to cybercrime. Other deviant behaviors such as pornography are easily promoted via these mobile platforms making them a bad thing to have in the wrong hands (Hardell, 2018). The easy access of the internet is a primary factor that increases cyberbullying, considering that the devices allow an individual to connect to the internet without supervision. Additionally, the use of mobile phone devices has a significant role in reducing social interactions considering features such as games, which occupy the minds of the users.
Mobile phones have a significant role in society as they enhance communication and social interaction among people. However, it is necessary to focus on the proper use of the devices to avoid the negative impact. Responsibility is required when handling these devices that can be used to access a lot of information at the click of a button or chat with someone on the opposite side of the globe. The relevant authorities and also guardians should ensure that enough measures have been put in place so the people can enjoy the benefits of mobile phones while minimizing the negative effects that may come with irresponsible use of the gadgets.
References
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