Smartphones Making

September 19, 2022
Smartphones are making us

The other day I was walking down a busy Manhattan street. Sidewalks were bustling with activity and were filled with people from just about every demographic imaginable. It was a typical summer Saturday afternoon in New York. Several strides ahead of me, I see a 20-something guy with his face buried deep in his phone, walk directly into a crosswalk, into a red light and into moving cars, without lifting his head, probably without even blinking, and obviously without thinking about anything but his texting. Fortunately the cars saw him and were able to slam on their brakes and avert what may have been a terrible accident. The young guy looked unfazed by this and went on his merry way, continuing his texting. I thought to myself, have we become that numb to the world around us? So self absorbed that we forget the very basic rules of safety that most people learned at a very young age? Have smartphones made us that dumb? Sadly, they have.

While there's no doubt that smartphone have made life easier by affording many conveniences and instant access to the world, it has effectively also made us more reliant on machine and less reliant on our own brain power. I'm in no way suggesting people should part with their smartphones. I am suggesting that people become more aware of how they might be hurting, rather than helping, their brains and looking at ways to strike a balance between smartphone use and smartphone reliance.

Here's how smartphones are making us dumber:

  • People forget how to talk. So often when I'm at social or professional events I look around and see people buried in their phones. If there are 100 people at a gathering I'd estimate one-quarter of them are texting or using their phone. Have they forgotten how to talk? Maybe. Are they too anxious to talk? Perhaps. Phones have become a pacifier of sorts, a security blanket, and a source of comfort to many. While at social and professional events, let's get back to good old fashioned communication and have a conversation, sans phone.
  • Smartphones affect our sleep. This makes us less sharp during the day. So many of my patients talk about how they keep their phone by their bed and on during the night and they do it because a text might come in. Going to bed under such conditions won't allow you to fully relax and get into a deep sleep. Shut the phone off completely and deal with any texts or messages in the morning.
  • People can't focus. A smartphone offers a multitude of apps, services, and features, leading to stimulation overload. Because of this, peoples' brains are on overdrive and they multitask, not allowing them to devote their full attention to one task, leaving them less productive.
  • People die at the hands of texting. Tragically looking down for a second or two to text while driving can lead to a fatality. Fines issued by law enforcement don't seem to deter users from doing this. Ultimately it will come down to people valuing life (theirs and others') over what they deem to be the urgency of a text.
  • People can't read a map. There's such a dependence to use the phone to give us verbal step-by-step directions that people don't have a sense of where they are. They essentially have come to rely on a computerized voice to get them from point A to point B instead of their own brain, sense of direction, and ability to look at a map and know where they are. What happens if the phone breaks or powers off? Will you be lost?
  • Peoples' identities are defined by their smartphone. Not just are they a status symbol, but without them, people feel "lost, empty, and naked." Many of my patients described this separation in such dramatic terms.
  • Peoples' ability to complete basic tasks is diminished. Autocorrect and tip calculators pretty much eliminate the need to know basic math and spelling.
  • Selfies. A culture of self-absorption and self-aggrandizing has been bred. Need I say more?

So be smart about your smartphone use. See the phone for what it is: a tool for communication and for information. It doesn't define you, make you more appealing to others, nor should it rule your life.

Have a period of no phone use and turn it off at night. Give it a break when you're giving yourself a rest. Prioritize people and real life human interactions over that of phones. There's an element of communication that simply isn't captured when using texting. Emotion is often missed, overlooked, or even miscommunicated. When possible, pick up the phone, and get back to that lost art of communication: talking.

Perhaps most important, don't let your desire to send or snap a picture or a text prevent you from enjoying a priceless moment in time that can only be captured with your naked eye in the moment.

MORE:

New York, Screen Sense, Author, Texting While Driving, Smart Phone, Jonathan Alpert, Be Fearless: Change Your Life In 28 Days, Executive Coach, Psychotherapist, Texting,

How to make rice krispies How to get a personal loan with bad credit? When to start training poodles to do tricks what does 100 mean Tips on how to make eyebrows higher what does rpm mean in a car How to tricks in puppy linux Who has the most hat-tricks in football history what time does usps open Tips and tricks youtube how to with old vhs tapes How to eat vagina what does los mean How to de stress How to cope with loneliness How to use ashes of war How to thicken chili what does it mean when a house is under contract How long to cook tamales what does chooch mean in italian what does epilogue mean what does getting swatted mean How to draw realistic eyes? what does ikr mean in texting Minecraft how to get rid of tips in top right How to apply.lipsense tips and tricks what does a vegan eat How to open a snap without them knowing How much does it cost to paint a truck? what does aids mean Tips tricks walkthrough how does manufacturing work in fallout 4 what does pues mean How to tell if salmon is cooked what does ss mean How rich is linus tech tips How to slow down a video on iphone what does schism mean How to do motorcycle tricks pubg Player unknown battlegrounds how to do tricks on bike control what does mildew smell like What is a good amount of tips in a bar How to relieve lower back pain fast Tips on how to clear your head during sex what does ntp mean How to do magic tricks on stage what does lmbo mean How to descale nespresso vertuo next what are we voting for today 2021 what are negatively charged ions called How to become a reseller How to file an amended tax return? what does diversified mean Tips on how to understand where someone is coming from what does rtc stand for Stunning brunette with great tits gives some great tips on how to have rough sex How to get over covid faster? How to calculate gpa? what does quartz look like what does 666 mean angel number Tips for when school feels overwhelming what does vitamin d3 do what does pugnacious mean How to delete app on iphone what does retarded mean what are the types of energy Tips on how to shave How to i what does fwb mean in text Tips on how to forgive How to watch yellowstone season 4 amazon prime? How to cook brisket tips what does it mean when a property is contingent what does family mean How to fold a towel How long to roast a chicken at 350? How to induce labor at home what does the name audrey mean what does insidious mean what does kun mean what does jordan mean How to teach a cat to do tricks What is tips infant How to calculate monthly mortgage payment How to remove background in photoshop what time does bath & body works close what names mean How to make candied grapes How to get lighter skin? How to do tricks in spider man what does wtp mean what does red heart mean what does postpartum mean what does humidity mean what does kek mean Tips on how to.use the nikon coolpix p900 How to watch spider man no way home? what does it mean to be amish Which of the following attacks tricks victims into providing confidential information what does pps stand for what race are asians what does a claddagh mean How long does oculus quest 2 take to charge? How long does it take for nicotine to clear your system? How to start mediterranean diet? How long do i need to work as a bartender before i start making over a hundred and fifty and tips How to make tea? How to get bitcoin? what does fox eat When to useformation tips andvelocity tips what does dio mean what does disposition mean in court How to light a menorah? what are the alps what does post workout mean Mmx racing wwe tips on how to crush cars How to use a nebulizer How to start a candle business? What are some tips to help litter boxes smell less what does opt mean what is scattered fibroglandular densities mean How to remove duplicates in excel How to store fresh garlic? How do you train hedgehogs to do tricks How to turn on tips onlyfans How old to rent car? what do snakes mean in dreams spiritually what essential oils are good for headaches what vitamins does orange juice have Tips on how to win slot machines How to transfer apps to new iphone How to tie a bracelet slip knot? what does shounen mean Tips on what to wear on a 7 days trip to prague in late sept and early oct what are the essential amino acids what does ptsd mean How to make french onion soup? what does a coo do How to watch polar express How to get rid of heartburn what does 411 mean spiritually How to update audio drivers? what does it mean when a blue jay visits you How to play music on discord what does pc mean in law what does the car light mean How to track tax return? How to pay with venmo balance? How to clear sinuses what does apr mean for loans what does service advance trac mean How to take apart a ps4? How to make your snapchat dark mode on android? How to use paypal credit? what does al pastor mean How to calculate heart rate what does it mean if my poop is green what age does chick fil a hire How to become a bookkeeper? How to make a moscow mule? How do you use tricks of the trade in pvp What tricks can i teach my animal companion pathfinder what does zinc do for your body what hours are considered evening Why are tips of bats scooped out what does f what does humira treat How to bleach the tips of your hair in a straight line by yourself How to make a calzone? what are tonsils used for How to know if you have a hernia? How to pair jbl earbuds? what does oily stool look like How to curl your hair? How to make chicken tacos How to play new malzahar tip and tricks What are the tips of a pig's placenta called How to look for bed bugs? what does it mean when a boy stares at you Great tips for managing people who have bad attitudes How to say hair tips in chinese what does axis mean for glasses How are waitresses paid from credit card tips How to screen shot on ipad? what does wheezing sound like what does don't @ me mean what does it mean to cc someone in an email How to get tips link on twitch How to tighten loose skin on stomach What are some tips to follow so you will not become a distracted driver? what does akc mean How to raise hand in zoom? How old to work at starbucks How long metcal tips temperature How to grow a butt How to ask someone to drink bartender tricks what are sea monkeys what does asl mean on snapchat Why don't cats like to learn tricks Tips of peace lilly leaves turning brown how to treat ` what are lozenges How to change galaxy buds ear tips what does frantic mean Tips on how and what to invest in How to clean a bong? what time does kroger close what time does family dollar close what does js mean what does kewl mean How to dry out a pimple How many shots to get drunk Tricks to do when giving head How to keep your phone from turning off Why are my ski tips flat instead of a rounded Tell me what happened terminal tower cab tips help Nc tips for what to do if you are involved in an accident How to watch rick and morty season 5? How to file for divorce in texas? How to draw a minion? what does trade mean in stocks Diet tips for people who dont like fruits and veggies Graco spray tips how to install seals What disease causes leaves brown on tips How to restore iphone to factory settings what does it mean to reap what you sow what does succulent mean How to trademark a logo? How to find percent change? justin bieber what do you mean lyrics How i write an ebook in 1 day with no fancy tools or tricks code what does cabron mean in spanish How to multiply matrices what does indie games mean How to repost a story on instagram? Fight tips how to punch faster How to do card tricks like mat franco How to get rid of gnats in kitchen? what bank does chime use How to be a woman tips How to make a magnet? what does it mean when a bearded dragon licks you How do you do motorcycle tricks in the crew How to remove apple airpod pro tips How to regrow hair? How to become a jeweler? How to insert a check mark in excel? How to eat lobster? what are the synoptic gospels How to watch paw patrol? what does return on equity mean How to make ceviche what are dependents what team does isaiah thomas play for How to make flower in little alchemy 2? How to get paypal How to view spotify wrapped? How to turn off shuffle on spotify? How to make smooth cake tips at home Tips how to give head what does congruent mean How to bake a cake? what does bv look like How to renew your passport what does revolution mean What is hypotheses tips what are the best states to retire in financially? What tricks can you teach cats what do yellow nails mean How long does it take to build muscle?
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
RELATED VIDEO
Making Of - Movistar Smartphones
Making Of - Movistar Smartphones
Will Samsung Stop Making Smartphones in 5 Years?
Will Samsung Stop Making Smartphones in 5 Years?
Making Payments from your Smartphone with Near Field
Making Payments from your Smartphone with Near Field ...
RELATED FACTS
Share this Post