It’s true! Smartphones have changed my friends’ brains. Before, we used to have long face-to-face conversations without distractions. But now, when we get together, everyone’s eyes are fixed on the screen of their phones. Even when I try to talk to them, they seem like robots.
We are losing our ability to connect and communicate. Smartphones have made us lonelier and less attentive to our surroundings.
My friends are trapped in their virtual world, unable to enjoy the present moment. In addition, I have noticed that attention spans have become shorter and more scattered. They need help to concentrate or follow a complex conversation. Instead, their minds jump from one message to another without delving into anything.
A daily life without a screen in front of their faces is no longer conceivable for millions of people. On average, we interact with our phones for two to three hours a day, two full working days a week.
Why do we spend so much time with this thing? In just twelve years, the emergence of smartphones has revolutionized our ways of entertainment and communication, completely transforming our daily lifestyles. I always think back to Steve Jobs’ appearance on the first iPhone. He said, “Every once in a while, revolutionary products change everything.” This statement is very true. Our society has changed a lot since the smartphone.
Researchers from Zurich and Freiburg universities have found that smartphone usage can affect the brain, with discernible impacts on the emotional center and sensorimotor cortex. These brain regions have dedicated processing areas for every body part, from the toes to the jaw to the tongue.
The neuroscientists’ conclusion: “The digital technology we use in everyday life shapes sensory processing in our brains to an extent that has surprised us.”
Gaya Dowling, a brain scientist from the National Institutes of Health, told CBS TV that parents should be worried about their kids who spend too much time on screens because it can make their brains thinner. Numerous media outlets have since turned to the report. “Here’s How Cell Phones Change Our Children’s Brains,” headlined, for example, The New York Times.
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In the U.S., one in two nine-year-olds already has a cell phone; by age 13, it’s even more than 90%. Researchers found brain changes in children using smartphones, tablets, or video games for over 7 hours/day.
For example, the cerebral cortex of affected children is thinner. “This is the wrinkled outer layer of the brain that processes information from the five senses,” Dowling explained. Result: smartphones cause children’s brains to shrink.
Another recent study found that prolonged smartphone use alters brain structure, especially in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control. It also found that excessive smartphone use impacts memory, attention, and sleep.
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🟧❓FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
✔️ Are smartphones hazardous to health? There are some potential concerns related to the excessive use of smartphones and radiation exposure. Cell phones emit radiofrequency radiation, which is a form of non-ionizing radiation. Studies have found no apparent adverse effects on people’s health due to this radiation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies radiofrequency radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” but more research is still needed to reach definitive conclusions.
Specific actions can be hazardous when using smartphones, such as being distracted while driving, using improper body postures, and spending prolonged periods sitting and staring at the screen. These behaviors can lead to various health issues, such as musculoskeletal problems, sleep disturbances, and injuries.
In summary, the responsible and moderate use of smartphones minimizes the risks associated with human behavior and maintains a healthy lifestyle balance.
✔️ What are the adverse effects of blue light emitted by smartphones? Constant exposure to blue light can cause eye irritation, fatigue, and headaches. Vision: the blue light emitted by smartphones can cause gradual vision loss and even macular degeneration. Sleep difficulties: blue light can interfere with sleep patterns, making falling and staying asleep more difficult. Skin damage: overexposure to blue light can cause changes in skin cells and damage the skin.
Against blue light, it is advisable to limit time spent in front of screens, install blue light filters on electronic devices and take frequent pauses to allow the eyes to rest.
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