For all the good smartphones have brought about, some serious problems have arisen regarding their widespread use. In fact, they can be attributed to a lot of the damaging mental health side effects that people around the world are battling daily. Here are some of them.
Low-Quality Socialization
Smartphone use has led to widespread social isolation. While people have never been more connected digitally, they are socially isolated from real-world relationships, especially when smartphones can be pulled out in in-person social settings for a quick escape.
Distraction and Addiction
Smartphones are like an instant dopamine hit. The near-constant checking for notifications or scrolling through social media can lead to addiction, thereby distracting people from their real-world obligations, thoughts, or emotions.
Lack of Privacy
Since smartphones are used so often and for so much, this brings up questions of privacy. Data breaches are a dime a dozen these days, and location tracking or unauthorized access of sensitive information can put the personal privacy of users at risk.
Effects on Mental Health
Too much smartphone use has been linked to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and poor sleep. Furthermore, the “keeping up with the Joneses” attitude of social media can cause people to look down on themselves for not keeping up with their peers.
Spreading of Misinformation
Information can spread quickly on social media, as can misinformation or fake news. When misinformation gets spread to this degree, it can dramatically impact public opinion, safety, and society as a whole.
Waning In-Person Social Skills
Technology and digital tools are great for productivity, but they don’t necessarily have the best track record for improving in-person communication skills. Over-reliance on these tools can negatively impact real-world social skills.
It is possible to use smartphones in a way that does not lead to these issues, but only if you do so consciously and try to limit your use. To learn how to use technology in a way that is good for your business and your mental health, be sure to contact us at (604) 513-9428.
