Over the last ten years’ technology has made some astonishing advancements. Cell phones have turned from just being able to call and text to miniature computers, making access to much more information available instantaneously. Although this is a wonderful advancement it has helped make countless more people susceptible to overusing their phones without hesitation. This has started effect people in different ways. For many people the over use of cell phones has hindered their ability to stay healthy. Young children and teens are much more susceptible to the harmful effects of cell phones. It can cause sleep disruption and cause children to have a dependency on cell phones which can also effect social behaviors. With the mix of cell phone addiction and lack of sleep these factors can often lead to people showing symptoms of depression. Cell phones have a negative impact on peoples mental and physical health. 

Addiction is a scary thing but some addictions are more talked about than others. Generation X seems to be overcome with love for their digital devices. They never want to put them down, stop using them, or turn them off.  Generation X has an overwhelming number of people addicted to their cell phones. Most people fear they are going to miss out on life experiences or even just gossip being passed between friends. They do not want to feel disconnected because being left out is a horrible feeling. So to near feel left out they never leave their phones. This in itself is a horrible mistake, but they do not know the true harmful effects cell phones can have. Generation X relies heavily upon their phones to help them get by on a daily basis. Constantly checking their phones to use the internet to check facts they already know (Deb 236). At this level of addition people start to experience something called phantom vibration and phantom ring. A study in Asia-Pacific Psychiatry shows, “that [phantom vibration and phantom ring] is commonly experienced by regular mobile phone users” (Deb 237). The more time people send away from their phone the less phantom vibration and phantom ring will have an effect on their lives. Although many people do not seem bothered by the phantom vibration and phantom ring it is a clear sign that people are over using their phones. 

As the years go on, and technology develops, children are exposed to technology earlier and earlier. Parents often use cell phones to keep young children calm, quiet, and occupied on long car rides and in public outings. Not only does this start the premature addiction people have to their cell phone, it can have harmful effects on children. Parents who give children their phone at a young age are not bad parents, most just do not know the harmful effects. Many parents are not alone when they say they were never informed about the proper time allotment of media usage children should have as they grow up. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends “children 18 months and younger to try avoid any and all screen exposure”, and “for children 2 to 5 years of age… screen time be limited to one hour”. The academy also states that “media usage in school or for educational purposes [should not] count when limiting a child's screen time such as when it is used for entertainment” (Kuhn). Although this can still contribute to kids becoming dependent on a parents’ cell phone to be pacificated. 

As children get older they begin to seek more media usage and their cell phone starts to become attached to their hand. Although teens can be a little different when it comes to media usage, researchers have found they can have an appropriate limit for cell phone usage. Oxford University believes that they have found a precise amount of time that teenagers can use their phones or computers that will allow them to develop stronger social skills without disrupting their health. Although numerous studies have actually found Oxford’s study wrong. Oxford recommends exactly four hours and 17 minutes of screen time for teenagers (Sweet dreams, maybe 60). Many teenagers still tend to go over this limit because they feel like they might miss out on things their friends are doing. Sticking to the strict time constraint can be very important at this age, because teenagers are still developing physically and mentally. 

Teenagers tend to go over the recommended cell phone usage. This is where it can become harmful. As many know, it is very important for growing adolescents to get a good night’s sleep. Teenagers are recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep daily. For this to happen teens must fall asleep early and quickly to get the proper amount of sleep before waking up before school. “A study of 10,000 teenagers in Norway in 2015 showed that more than four hours of daytime screen time use meant a 49% greater risk of taking longer than 60 minutes to fall asleep" (Sweet dreams, maybe 60). This same article “showed that those who used a computer in the hour before bed were three times more likely to get less than five hours sleep” (60). For growing teens sleep is a very important part of staying healthy and being able to function properly so they can learn in and out of school. Parents need to make the executive decision for their children if the risk of damaging a teenagers sleep cycle is worth the minor social benefits cell phones can have. “[Taking] phones out of the bedroom before bedtime” can be a major advantage when trying to get a full night’s sleep. Overall parents are in charge and do implement the rules. Teaching children the harmful effects cell phones can have is the only way for kids to understand why they need to be restricted on phone usage (60).

In today’s world people it seems practically live off their cell phones, but not only is that obsessive it is also unhealthy. Many people do not realize how harmful a cell phone can be even when it is not being used. “Most of the provided services by cell phones involve data transfer by sending and receiving electromagnetic waves” (Bayatiani 9). Most people know about the fact that phones transmit radiation but they also know it is only a small amount. The issue with this is people stop thinking about how the radiation can actually affect them. Unless the cell phone is completely off or out of the room people can still be effected by the electromagnetic waves that cell phones radiate. Having these waves being around people can cause sleep disturbances. Studies have shown that people who use cell phones have reported trouble sleeping, headaches and even dizziness (9). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index has shown that sleep quality has a direct correlation to the excessive use of cell phones (15). Therefore, proving that the more people use cell phones or are around a cell phone can have a negative effect on their health. 

Sleep is very important for people to function normally, and remain healthy physically and mentally. Not having the proper amount of sleep is often a way people slip into depression. This may not be the only faction for people to have depression but it does not help. When people become over tired they become more sensitive to things and it becomes harder for people to see the good in their life. Another issue is young people also become stressed out and fear that they are missing something if they are not attached to their phone at all times. They believe everyone else is available when they are not (Thomée 10). A study found that setting limits was a key factor for avoiding getting symptoms of depression. The people who feel stressed out by having their phone, such as teenagers fearing to miss out, were more likely to show symptoms of depression (10). 

While depression cannot be passed from one person to another, germs can be. Many people do not think about how dirty their phones are. Nor do they think about how dirty doctor’s phones are. While cell phone can help tremendously in the medical field they are also a very easy way to transfer bacteria. Researchers have found that even after cell phones were cleaned with 70% iso propyl alcohol over 40% of phones still had bacteria growing on them (Arora). This can be very harmful when doctors are touching their phones and then touching patients. Their patents immune system can already be weak, passing new bacteria to them can be dangerous and even life threatening.
