Smartphones are a miracle of technology in the contemporary world. They allow individuals or users perform various activities at the same time: multitasking capability to the extent that they have become an extension of one’s life. For example, they allow instantaneous global communication, help people navigate unfamiliar cities, handle office work, give expert level advice and information or act as a camera but to name a few. With these positive advantages, these gadgets also come with negative effects, profoundly mental health problems. This information stands true by how there is a wide social acceptance of smartphone use at the dinner table in many homes. Studies and surveys continue to surface that reveal how smartphone use plagues the user. This literature will explicate on the effects of smartphone use on the realm of anxiety and remediation means to limit its use.
Smartphones use effect on anxiety is based on the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) phenomenon (Weir, 2017). The FOMO is an old fear that is triggered by the newest form of communication: social media. Conventionally, human’s role in survival was imperative, both individually and in groups, that could mean the difference between life and death. As such, humans were not complacent to missing out on hunting and gathering. However, this dictum has changed in the “now” era where people have become satisfied to the effect of technology. Survival is now based on smart phones which have provided a means for people to communicate whereby if they feel left out, they are missing something big. It is the more reason that individuals will constantly keep checking their phone to see what is new or trending.
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A study explores the connection between the link of smartphones on anxiety levels. In this study, they defined anxiety as a mental state induced by constant worry and nervousness that is accompanied by compulsive behavior. They tested this effect on college students through detaching them from their smartphones for one hour (Rosen, Whaling, Rab, Carrier & Cheever, 2013) . Based on anxiety levels, light users did not show any effect, moderate users started to show effect within 25 minutes, while heavy users could barely last 10 minutes from being away from their smartphones. Notably, the students were anxious to check if they have any text messages, notifications on social media, and other mobile technology. This behavior was noticeable amongst people of all ages and generations. Noticeably, this however greatly impacted the younger generation and the baby boomers.
The fear of missing out regarding anxiety negatively affects people’s lives. In essence, this feeling is not good, and it is the more reason why people feel they are left out. It can make students neglect work and other school-related activities (Weir, 2017). Conversely, it makes people believe that if they do not get connected to people and their surrounding they might lose out on important information that might have otherwise been deemed awesome. This lack of concentration has been linked with the negative performance at school, work, and in any project that an individual partakes in.
There are several ways to reduce the use of smartphones. One way to reduce the constant use of smartphones is through killing idleness. Notably, it is during the idle moment that an individual starts to check their mobile phones. Idleness is a state that an individual has nothing to do but to sit around. For this reason, they kill their time through snooping on the mobile phones. A remedy to this situation includes creating a list of what to do during the idle moments instead of scrolling through the phone. Weiss & Schneider (2014) states, “If your first impulse when you get a quiet moment is to reach for your device, remind yourself of half a dozen other things you could be doing instead that would be more meaningful and relaxing: taking a walk, writing a love note with paper and pen, dancing to your favorite song, doing a few stretches, meditating for 10 minutes.” Another way of killing idle moments is choosing outdoor activities over technology. When at home, an individual can ensure that they cannot be online if the sun is shining. Thus, they can participate in healthy physical activities such as playing basketball, football amongst others. Secondly, use of willpower can come handy. This includes challenging oneself to put the mobile phone away once it is determined that using it over this period is harmful. As such, one can turn it off. Alternatively, unplugging the smartphone before bed can be a great tool. This can include powering down the smartphone one hour before bed. As seen, the blue wavelength light from the screen inhibits production of sleep hormone. Thus, powering down the phone can help the body produce melatonin, darkness hormone, which signals the brain that it is sleeping time.
Conclusively, the use of smartphones has negatively impacted the human beings as it has increased their anxiety levels to the extent that they always want to be abreast with information. The FOMO effect has caused anxiety amongst individuals that they want to check their phones now and then. Remedies to this situation include killing idleness through participating in outdoor activities, using willpower not to use smartphones under a paradigm, and unplugging the smartphone before bed.
References
Rosen, L., Whaling, K., Rab, S., Carrier, L., & Cheever, N. (2013). Is Facebook creating “iDisorders”? The link between clinical symptoms of psychiatric disorders and technology use, attitudes and anxiety. Computers in Human Behavior , 29 (3), 1243-1254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.11.012
Weir, K. (2017). (Dis)Connected, 48 (3), 42. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/03/cover-disconnected.aspx
Weiss, R., & Schneider, J. (2014). Closer together, further apart . Routledge.
