Cell Phones And Its Effect On Our Human Interaction

I fear the day that technology will suppress our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots (Albert Einstein). Americans basically live off of cell phones, it is considered a necessity of life. By 2015, it is estimated that Americans will consume both traditional and digital media for over 1.7 trillion hours, an average of approximately 15 and a half hours per person per day (Short). Is it good or bad for schools to allow students to have cell phones? The latest Teens and Technology 2013 study, from Pew Research, found that 78 percent of teens aged 12 – 17 own a cell phone (Haselton). However, a Worcester School committee member called for a re-evaluation of the school district s policy on the use of cell phones in†¦show more content†¦Teens with cell phones send 440 text messages a week and 110 a week while in the classroom (Jones). These distractions will not allow the cell phone user or other classmates to fully understand the lesson. The use of cell phones in school also encourages cheating among students. The poll, by the Benenson Strategy Group, revealed that more than 35% of teens admit to cheating with cell phones (Jones). Cell phones allow students to google the answers for exams, or text fellow friends or classmates for the answers. Studying for a history exam may be longer than asking your classmate for the answer. Cell phones allowed school harms a student s education by not able to concentrate in class and cheating on exams. Secondly, cell phones being allowed in school affect a student s physical and mental health. Cyberbullying in school is common and the use of cell phones increases it. Cyberbullying mentally harms a person s health. The mental and physical health of a child, who is bullied online in school and at home, is damaging! For example, last June students took photos of a high school senior, Saira Ali, in the cafeteria. The pictures later appeared on Snapchat with the word Isis on them (Attrino). This is a sign of harassment, which is an attribute of cyberbullying. The indulgence of cell phones also brings harm to a person s physical health. Americans already spend