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THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT SMARTPHONE (LIBERATING OR IMPRISONING?)
By : dr. Mariani Indriati (PNS IIIC/Koops AU I)
In this era, we don’t need to go to library to search for information. It is not necessary
to open our notebooks only to check e-mails. Nowadays, it is possible to stay connected
to our beloved ones at all times, even though we are thousands miles away apart. We
can even “meet” our old friends from another city or country. Yet, the most fascinating
fact of today’s communication and source of information is that we only need our fingers
and a small device called “Smartphone”.
1. The masterpiece is called „Smartphone“
Smartphone provides us the ability to hold the world in our hand.
Information from all over the world can be acquired within seconds. When we
need to transfer some amount of money or pay our bills, we can do it without
moving an inch from where we stand by using smart applications in the phone.
In the old days, shopping and searching things we need from one shop to
another is an exhausting activity. On the contrary, shopping these days is a lot
more efficient and economical since we are able to do it online and we can
compare as many online shops as possible to find a good bargain. We are only
required to open an application on a smartphone where we will be exposed to
countless online shops which offer us plenty of options so that we can order the
items which meet our budget.
Are you hungry? It’s not necessary to go anywhere where there are many
kind of meals we can order by using smartphone. We are only entailed to open
certain application, select the preferred meal, and in several minutes the food will
be delivered to our place.
Even more interesting is the fact that through certain applications we can
order a therapist to provide message service. We can also request certain kind of
services such as cleaning household, makeup and hair do, car wash, buy tickets,
book a hotel room, and much more.
Smartphone helps us in providing almost everything we need; from job to
vacation, academic to leisure purpose, duties to hobbies and a lot more.
Smartphone also provides entertainment such as video streaming, web surfing,
radio tuning, gaming, working out and many other activities which can amuse us.
Not to mention is social media. Once we have an account, we can say goodbye to
boredom and connected to friends and places all over the world! We only need to
download a selection of applications.
Therefore, with all those facts we already familiar with, smartphone at the
present time is not a choice for most of us. It is a must have device. Combined to
a good internet connection, it offers us a level of incredibly easy life. No wonder if
we are so attached with our smartphones these days.
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2. The reality of Smartphones use
However, if we consider the reality of smartphone use nowadays, perhaps we will
change our perspective toward the device.
Fact number 1.
The universal access to digital technology, starting at younger ages, is
transforming modern society in ways that can have negative effects on physical
and mental health, as well as neurological development. Since many children
prefer playing games by using gadget instead of playing outside, they tend to have
vitamin D deficiency caused by lack of sun exposure. The disks spine could be
negatively affected due to extensive time when we are in the same position for a
long period. It might provoke some illnesses related to nervous systems.
Fact number 2.
How can a smartphone create negative consequences to personal
relationship? Many people are glued to their mobile phones. The devices are
supposed to free us by giving more time to experience life with people we loved.
Unfortunately, it is becoming ordinary for people to be bombarded by bells, buzzes
and chimes that alert them to messages they feel compelled to view and respond
immediately.
It is also becoming common when young couples in a dinner pull out their
smartphones to check messages, or take selfie pictures for then sending the
pictures immediately to his/her social media account. They would rather do these
new habits instead of checking the menu and make conversation between them.
Afterwards, they will frequently check their phones throughout the meal just to
know how many likes he/she receive from the last posts.
Almost everywhere people are starring at their mobiles instead of caring for
their surroundings. They are virtually connected to others who are apart; but sadly,
they often fail to connect to people who live around them. In the real life, people
are becoming more isolated rather than connected to others due to a small device
called smartphone.
Fact number 3.
Smartphone addiction is a very real phenomenon. Experts say our brains
get a hit of dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals linked to happiness, when our
phones beep or ring. These are the same chemicals that give drug users their
“high”! A condition of being fear without mobile device called nomophobia, is
recognized as a serious issue nowadays. Even in the US, there is rehab facilities
available to help people dealing with this kind of problem. Similar to many other
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addictive substances, withdrawal can be long and painful with some complications
like distress, panic, confusion, and extreme isolation.
Fact number 4.
It is very common we use smartphone as devices to keep engaged to social
media. We take pictures or selfies, then share them to social media to update our
status. We let our smartphone track our locations and let check-in feature ON,
only to impress others. We often share information which is supposed to be
private without realizing it. In reality, every time we check-in at a certain place,
change relationship status, click on certain advertising, join specific groups, and
visit a site, our information is being recorded. In short, there is no real privacy in
social networking, even though we have set our social media account in private
settings.
Off course there are plenty of benefits from smartphone when we use it wisely.
Just put it in purpose when it was invented, to make our life easier, so we have more time
to spend with our beloved ones.
Be a boss from our smartphones, do not let them control us, because we are
smarter than our phones.
Never feel safe when we are interacted in social media. Remember, there is no
real privacy even when we choose private settings.
Last but not least, let’s put our family before our smartphones. Make rules
between family member in using Smartphones. Do not let them wait while we are busy
with smartphone, because believe me, it is unpleasant if they do the same to us.
I am sure, the world will be more wonderful when people smile to each other, and not to
their phones.
Thank you.
