“The physical absence was the first thing I noticed,” says Katie Reid, 29, who gave up her iPhone in February for a flip phone. “It felt like something was missing from my body.” How to Go Back to a Flip Phone NYT
Most Americans take it for granted that smartphones make life better, but the research says otherwise. Addictive apps are rewiring our brains, wasting our time and making it harder to focus. Social media make us more anxious and depressed. The light from our screens reduces melatonin and disrupts sleep. Distracted driving leads to more collisions and fatalities.
Without a smartphone to look at, you don't have much of a choice but to be present, and other people — whether it's a colleague or a stranger on social media — can't insert themselves as easily into your life at inopportune times. Even when we resist our smartphones in social situations, they're always there in our pockets buzzing with notifications, begging us to check them. Just by virtue of being there, smartphones occupy a large space in our minds. My Life Without a Smartphone, LA Times
According to research:
- 95% of Americans own some type of cell phone
- Age, household income and educational attainment are factors determining ownership of cell or smart phone
- More and more Americans are using smartphones as means of internet access at home
- Reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among younger adults, non-whites and lower-income Americans.
- About a quarter of U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online
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- 5 billion people around the world now use a cellphone
Nomophobia — a 21st-century term for the fear of not being able to use your cell phone or other smart device.
- How often do you check your smart phone?
- Have you been pulled over for using your phone while driving?
- Do you take advantage of red lights to respond to texts?
- Does your battery last throughout the day?
- Do you use your smartphone at inappropriate times?
- Have people asked you to get off your phone and pay attention to them?
Smartphone Addiction
In a small study of teenage boys who were ‘addicted’ to their smartphones, brain imaging revealed significantly significantly higher levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in their brains than the energizing neurotransmitter glutamate-glutamine.
Higher GABA levels are related to problems with focusing, increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and impulsivity. (Research has recently revealed higher levels of GABA in brain imaging of alcoholics).
"We know that medium to heavy multitaskers, who engage in multiple forms of media simultaneously, tend to demonstrate
smaller gray matter area in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for top-down attention control," he said. "Altogether, this means that if you are too dependent on your smartphone, you are basically damaging your ability to be attentive."
Following nine weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, the GABA levels in the teenagers who participated in the study returned to normal.
"To me, the most interesting aspect of the study is that they were able to see a correction of the imbalance after cognitive behavior therapy intervention," Wintermark said. "What I would like to see is more research on whether the symptoms of addiction are also corrected."
In Roy Germano ‘s LA Times piece My life without a smartphone, the author notes not having ready access to his camera, Google Maps, and the Uber and Lyft apps were initially challenging but the advantages of life without his smartphone definitely has its rewards.
The most immediate advantage of not owning a smartphone, I quickly learned, is the ability to immerse yourself in social situations. Without a smartphone to look at, you don't have much of a choice but to be present, and other people — whether it's a colleague or a stranger on social media — can't insert themselves as easily into your life at inopportune times. Even when we resist our smartphones in social situations, they're always there in our pockets buzzing with notifications, begging us to check them. Just by virtue of being there, smartphones occupy a large space in our minds.
The Return of the Dumb Phone
Is the flip phone 2018’s hottest cultural trend? Witness the revival of the retro Nokia phones, a new keypad model offering smartphone capabilities, and rumors of the return of the Razr.
“If you, or a loved one, seems to have the symptoms of smart device or internet addiction, experts have some suggestions in addition to mindfulness training. First, turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as in meetings, having dinner, playing with your kids, and of course, driving. Remove social media apps, like Facebook and Twitter from your phone, and only check-in from your laptop. Try to wean yourself to 15 minute intervals at set times of the day when it won't affect work or family life. Don't bring your cell phone and it's harmful blue light to bed; use an old fashioned alarm to wake you. And last, try to replace your smart device time with healthier activities such as meditating or actually interacting with real people.” Smartphone addiction could be changing your brain, CNN
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