Good Connection, Bad Example: Cell Phones and The Family
Cell phone use is changing our society and there are hidden dangers
affecting our lives, our families, and our work. The dangers of
cell phones, ranging from annoying to deadly, have been documented
all around the United States in recent years.
There are almost 180 million cell phone users and it is rapidly expanding. Cell phone use has intruded in many areas of our lives. There are many obvious benefits to this technology. It helps to keep us in contact with our families and our work. The danger is that many people do not know when to turn off their cell phone. Personal contact and good listening skills have become less of a commodity than availability. Cell phones have influenced every aspect of our lives.
The cell phones intrusion on the family is the most concerning. Overuse of cell phones can blur the distinction between work and home. Being constantly accessible to our work and our families puts us in a position of greater responsibility. Communication creates stress when we are expected to always be responsive to the needs of others.
Time is in short supply for many families today. The limited amount of time we spend with our families could be quality time, spent promoting values and setting examples for our children. In order to encourage open, personal communication within the family, members need to know that you are available and important to them. Quality, uninterrupted time spent together provides security and encourages people to get to know one another. This is a hard example to set, made even harder by the accessibility of cell phones.
The increase in cell phone use has dramatically changed our concept of availability. Our mobile society has people out of the office and dependant on cell phones to keep in contact with their coworkers and employers. When do you relax if you are “always on” and always connected? Taking calls wherever and whenever blurs the boundaries between work and play. Cell phones have created a new level of accountability. Whether it is your family or employer, because of cell phones you are accountable for much more of your time.
The work we do often requires creative thinking and creative problem solving. When people have a healthy balance, they are more productive and more creative. Constant interruptions to the creative process are detrimental. Mostly, quantity generates income and cell phones allow us to increase the amount of work we do with illusion of being off work. We assume that we are increasing our productivity. In fact, it takes us longer to complete any task when we are pressured to share responsibility, instead of making final decisions ourselves
There are many appropriate uses for cell phones but there are inappropriate places to use them. Some of the criticism of cell phones stem from the use of cell phones while driving. New studies have determined that cell phones are considered a factor in auto accidents. In response to the concern, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), State legislatures, the Insurance Information Institute and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CITA) are conducting research as well as studying traffic and accident reports to determine the effect of cell phone conversation. Holding complex conversations (emotional and thoughtful) while driving increased accident risk 400 percent, only slightly less than drunk driving. Accident reports are only recently reflecting the correlation between cell phones and crashes as NHTSA is involving local authorities in collecting evidence and tracking data. CITA discourages stressful or emotional communication and pursues the advantages of hand free features as well as proper location of the phone within the vehicle.
In many places, phones are disruptive and make the experience less enjoyable for everyone. Theaters and churches have begun asking people to turn off their phones before entering. Cell phones in public are a nuisance to other people.
There are ways in which we can lessen the negative effects of constant communication. We can allow compassion and personal interaction to come before availability. We can set limits on our availability. This would free us somewhat from the constraints of accountability and enable more meaningful interaction. We could be more aware of the disruptions we cause to other people and be considerate when using the cell phone.