10 Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones on Health

Smartphones are negatively affecting everyone but more damage can be seen in children due to excessive use. Such damages are a range of physical, mental, and social. This article explains the 10 harmful effects of mobile phones and also the tips to incorporate to reduce their use. Check out the Best International Schools in Bangalore which teaches how to live a healthy and balanced life avoiding inappropriate tools with harmful effects. 

How Do Smartphones Affect Students?

Smartphones can significantly impact students in multiple ways, such as follows:

Academic Performance

• Constant use of smartphones leads to distractions during study time. 
• Constant use of smartphones results in lower focus and reduced productivity. 
• This leads to poor academic outcomes and undesired results. 
• Worrying notifications on social media accounts contribute to unnecessary procrastination.

Social Interactions

• Smartphones lead to superficial relationships by reducing face-to-face interactions. 
• They facilitate communication that is not so genuine, pure, and humane. 
• Overuse of smartphones may lead to social isolation and a lack of meaningful connections.

Mental Health

• The unnecessary pressure on social media to stay in contact with everyone can cause anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. 
• Playing the game of relevancy on social media leads to fear of missing out, contributing to mental health issues. 
• Social media is prone to spew hate through cyberbullying which can affect the confidence of an individual.

Physical Well-Being

• Overuse of smartphones leads to poor posture, eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep. 
• Excessive use of smartphones negatively affects the energy levels and co-operative function of the brain. 
• This also leads to hampering student’s ability to concentrate and retain the information.

10 Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones

The following are the 10 harmful effects of excessive use of smartphones on health overall.

1. Radiation Exposure

• Various studies suggest that extended exposure to radiofrequency leads to risk of brain tumors and other cancers. 
• Prolonged exposure to radiation emitted by mobile phones has been linked to more potential health risks which are heavy and long term. 
• WHO has classified mobile phone radiation as possibly carcinogenic, indicating a potential connection. 
• Children, due to their developing tissues, may be more susceptible. 
• Experts recommend limiting exposure by using speakerphone or earphones to avoid potential health risks. 
• Reduced call timings and avoiding carrying mobile phones directly against the body can be minimized to reduce these effects.

2. Sleep Disturbances

• The Blue light emitted from mobile phones can disrupt the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle or circadian rhythm. 
• Overuse of mobile phones leads to suppressing melatonin production, the hormone that is responsible for regulating sleep. 
• Sleep disruption leads to a negative impact on mental and physical health. 
• Overuse of phones reduces the cognitive performance of the brain and memory retention. 
• Various studies and experts recommend that an hour of use with night mode features can reduce any negative impacts.

3. Eye Strain and Vision Problems

• Excessive use of mobile phones leads to digital eye strain such as dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and discomfort. 
• Eye strain and vision problems can lead to more serious issues like myopia and potentially long-term vision impairment. 
• Staring at blue screens for a long time reduces the frequency of blinking and causes eye fatigue with dryness. 
• Constant English focusing on small text leads to eye strain mostly on the eye muscles. 
• Use the 20-20-20 rule to mitigate these effects (take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away to reduce eye strain and vision problems).

4. Mental Health Issues

• Accessible mobile phones are strongly linked to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress. 
• The constant notification messages and social media updates can create pressure to remain engaged and stay connected. 
• Social media with its cyberbullying like online comparisons, online hate, and derogatory comments can exacerbate feelings of low self-esteem issues. 
• Limit screen time practice mindfulness and engage in real-world interactions to combat such negative mental health issues.

5. Hearing Loss

• Listening to music or any audio files at high volumes can damage your hearing over time. 
• Exposure to sounds over 85 decibels can lead to noise-induced hearing loss for prolonged periods. 
• Repeated exposure to loud music or media can cause permanent damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, causing hearing impairment. 
• Early signs include ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing in noisy environments, which may develop over time, leading to a serious bombardment of hearing abilities. 
• Limit the volume to 60% of the maximum and take regular breaks to protect hearing.

6. Reduced Attention Span and Cognitive Function

• Constant use of mobile phones can impair concentration and reduce attention span. 
• The gratification offered by the notifications and social media connections can crave short bursts of stimulation within the brain, making it harder to focus on longer or more important tasks. 
• This is called digital distraction, which diminishes deep thinking and leads to reduced academic or professional performance. 
• Heavy use of mobile phones can negatively affect cognitive abilities, including memory and problem-solving skills suggested by various reports and studies. 
• Take short breaks to enhance your focus away from phones and practice mindfulness to take care of single-tasking habits.

7. Increased Risk of Accidents

• The use of mobile phones while driving or walking can increase the risks of accidents and injuries. 
• Pedestrians using phones while walking are more prone to accidents or unforeseen incidents due to reduced situational awareness. 
• Texting, calling, or browsing while traveling on roads diverts attention from the ongoing traffic leading to slower reactions at times which leads to the likelihood of unforeseen collisions. 
• Many countries have prohibited the use of mobile phones while driving or walking on roads to combat such issues. 
• Keep your phones away while driving or crossing the streets to be more focused on the road reducing accidents, risks, or injuries.

8. Impact on Social Relationships

• Overuse of mobile phones strains personal relationships and leads to social isolation. 
• Constant use of mobile phones during social interactions can make others feel ignored, and undervalued and weaken the human connection. 
• Excessive use of mobile phones reduces the quality of face-to-face communication which might affect deeply empathy and the ability to understand others. 
• Social media uses a false sense of connection which leads to loneliness or dissatisfaction in real-life relationships. 
• Balance the use and prioritize in-person interactions to improve social bonds and interactions for emotional well-being.

9. Fertility Issues

• Prolonged exposure to mobile phones especially in pockets close to reproductive organs may affect fertility in men. 
• The radio frequency emitted by phones may decrease sperm count mobility and viability. 
• More research and reports establish a direct link to phones and reproductive health causing negative impacts. 
• Avoid carrying phones in pockets for long durations to reduce these potential risks and use earphones or speaker phones for calls.

10. Physical Health Problems

• Prolonged use of mobile phones leads to various health problems including text neck which is a condition of hunching over screens for a long time. 
• Text neck leads to neck pain and stiffness causing poor posture resulting in back pain and strain on the spine. 
• Additionally, frequent typing or scrolls can cause repetitive strain injuries within fingers, wrists, and hands. 
• If such problems or issues lead to chronic discomfort or musculoskeletal disorders, practice good ergonomics in holding the phone at eye level and take frequent breaks to avoid these physical strains.

Ways Students Can Limit Mobile Phone Side Effects

The following are the best possible ways to reduce the mobile phone effects among students.

Personal Health Habits

Adapt healthier habits consciously to reduce the negative effects of mobile use, such as:

• Use the 20-20-20 rule to help prevent eye sprain (take 20 20-second breaks every 20 minutes to locate something 20 feet away). 
• Maintain proper posture while using phones by keeping devices at eye level to avoid neck and spine strain. 
• Limit screen time to balance schoolwork, socializing, rest, and playtime. 
• Design and schedule phone-free periods during study sessions and before bed to promote better focus, sleep, or rest. 
• Develop conscious health habits to reduce the physical and mental strain associated with prolonged mobile phone usage. 
• Follow personal steps to maintain birth productivity and well-being overall.

Tech-Based Solutions

Technology-based solutions can reduce the negative effects through various apps and settings such as:

• Set screen time to monitor the app’s usage and time spent on different apps. 
• Send reminders when the limits of use are exceeded beyond the set time.
• Encourage tools that lead to self-discipline and help students to prioritize important tasks.
• Reduce blue light by using filters available on smartphone apps and browsers to reduce disruption in sleep patterns.
• Enable do-not-disturb modes while studying sessions or driving to minimize distractions by silencing notifications and calls.

Additionally, parents can consider the following:

Parents can play a crucial role in their children’s life managing the usage of mobile phones and developing a few healthy habits. The following are the basic strategies parents can consider:

• Keep track of the time spent on the devices and the types of apps being used. 
• Offer parental control features for the apps and set usage limits. 
• Make regular discussions about mobile phones for the appropriate use to maintain transparency. 
• Encourage outdoor activities to reduce reliance on phones. 
• Organize family outings regularly to engage children in hobbies and outside activities to keep away from technology. 
• Set family rules to have no phones during meals or before bedtime. 
• Create tech-free zones at family time or homework to ensure children are more focused and less distracted.

Conclusion

Therefore, excessive usage of mobile phones causes the above-detailed effects on health with irreparable damages that are personal, academic, social, and professional in the future. Guide your children with simple strategies to overcome such effects by planning outdoor gatherings, active plays, and adjusting screen times. 

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