American's Overuse of Cell Phones

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From alarm clocks to step counters, price checkers to language teachers, smart phones these days have it all. Add instant connectivity to people across the globe, and it’s no wonder young adults are using their phones almost eight hours a day (qtd. in Spend Your Hour). Ironically, excessive cell phone use has neither increased productivity nor created stronger relationships—quite the contrary, actually. University of Maryland researchers are studying whether cell phones cause selfishness and reduce motivation to help others— and their results are indicating support (Dewar). And while it’s possible to multitask when performing rote activities, it’s not while action planning; deciding how to respond to another’s question or reconsidering your dinner order requires more concentration. What we tend to think of as multitasking is actually quick successive, rather than concurrent, decisions (Wallis). Thus, simultaneously conversing with both real and cyber people is not possible; one will take precedence, and usually, it’s the latter. Jonathan Rowe, contributing editor to the Washington Monthly, observed that “cell phones pull people into their own psychological polar field, and the pull is strong … what is it about these things that makes us so obedient, and so oblivious to that which lies outside them—such as actual people?” (Rowe). More than just ignoring the people they’re with, cell phone users tell friends and family they’re less important—than someone who isn’t even present. Cell phone use, or more aptly put, abuse, is causing a unique sort of family breakdown. Anthropologist Elinor Ochs conducted a four year study of modern family life and found gadgets to be one of the mo... ... middle of paper ... ...rtphone Danger: Distracted Parenting." Editorial. CNN. 14 June 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. Park, Michael Y. "Cell Phones Are the Latest 'Addiction'" Editorial. Fox News. 18 July 2006. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. Rowe, Jonathan. "Reach Out And Annoy Someone." The Washington Monthly 1 Nov. 2000. Print. Slate, Eric. "Technoslave." AdBusters 21 Apr. 2008. AdBusters. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. Wallis, Claudia. "The Multitasking Generation." TIME 27 Mar. 2006. Time Archive. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. Walsh, Bryan. "The Upside of Being an Introvert (And Why Extroverts Are Overrated)." TIME 6 Feb. 2012: 40-45. Web. "Who Will You Spend Your Hour With?" Ohr Naava (Dec. 2011): 1; 8-9. Print. Wikle, Thomas A. "America's Cellular Telephone Obsession: New Geographies of Personal Communication." The Journal of American Culture 24.1-2 (2001): 123-28. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.

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