Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones: Overview
In the 21st century, we have come far away from Graham Bell's invention of telephones and instead are occupied by portable mobile phones (smartphones), stuck to their little screens, with earphones plugged in to listen to music or watch educational videos, playing games, enjoying late-night talks or texting, and making our lives a great deal easier the entire day.
Mobile phones are a necessity and have become an inevitable part of our daily lives. As, with every other electronic gadget out there, mobile phones also have their advantages and disadvantages. This article will look at the ‘Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones’.
Talking about the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones or merits and demerits of mobile phone, there are numerous points which come to mind for both pros and cons of mobile phones. The table below sorts the advantages and disadvantages of cell phone.
Advantages of Mobile Phones | Disadvantages of Mobile Phones |
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Advantages of Mobile Phones
There are several advantages or benefits of mobile phones. The following are the advantages of mobile phones:
Easy Communication: No matter the size or price of mobile phones one of the merits of mobile phones is that it makes communication easier. Through portable mobile phones be it gossip, important information, good or bad news, or just the desire to talk or see your loved ones, mobile phones have made all this possible with few clicks or taps. In any surrounding where there is a mobile tower and available network, one can connect with their far-away loved ones in an instant.
Internet Access: High-speed internet access at the tips of your fingers through cell phones, is the new-age boon. Going to cyber cafes to access the internet, fill out online forms, information for projects, etc is a thing of the past.
Online Education: During the COVID era, students throughout the world would have been deprived of education if not for online education. With digitization happening in every sector, the education sector too has revolutionized itself with online education. Online courses have become easily accessible to kids as 85% of households have mobile phones nationwide. Even schools/colleges that offer offline education do share study materials in the form of videos, pictures, pdf format, and other media that can be read through mobile phones.
Social Connectivity: With the advent of the internet, connectivity and communication has changed. The world as it is today has become a global village. Social media has made this possible to a very large extent allowing people to connect with their family, friends, coworkers, and people even across borders. Different social media apps for respective purposes have made it easier for like-minded people to connect and get a sense of community. Sharing your daily life via Instagram/Facebook, sharing opinions, finding a partner, or even finding jobs is easier due to social media.
Online Banking: Internet Banking or Online Banking is another boon easily accessible through mobile phones. Anything related to your bank accounts, be it account status, money transfer from one bank to another, or even online payment is made simpler by using mobile phones. Payment of electricity bills is also hassle-free through mobile phones.
Navigation: If there is competition among the advantages of mobile phones, then GPS navigation is a winner. Information related to current location and destination makes travel/trips less worrisome. Tracking location is now uncomplicated. Having the entire global map on your mobile phone is a miracle helping us to find the shortest route, directions to the destination, and time estimate to reach.
Earning Money: Mobile phones have also become a resource for many. Creating blogs, vlogs, YouTube videos, or even being an online business has helped many individuals earn money. Content creators or influencers are the real know-it-all of this advantage of mobiles phones.
Promoting Business: Promoting a business through digital marketing is the new normal. New startups, entrepreneurs, or even settled businessmen can promote their businesses through mobile phones. Online sources like social media and messaging platforms can be accessed through mobile phones and be used to promote a business. Offline methods include text messages on the phone which consist a clickable link at the end redirecting the user to their product page or official business website.
Entertainment: Where earlier people were dependent on TVs, Radio, and theatres for entertainment, now any genre of entertainment that they seek is available at their fingertips. Multimedia materials, Games, and Streaming Services which are enjoyable with few clicks have compelled mobile users to be glued to their mobile screens.
Emergency Assistance: Mobile phones are a life-saver in need of emergency assistance. Instant availability of emergency assistance and communication in emergencies through cell phones is crucial.
Safety: Mobile phones ensure safety through GPS Tracking, caller identification, safe browsing and filtering, encrypted data transfers and storage, screen locks and biometrics, remote wiping, app permissions, two-factor authentication, secure operating systems, app store security, and find my phone apps.
Photography: Photography is nowadays not just a passion for people but also a trend in the Instagram age. The latest smartphone models have high-resolution cameras which just elevate the picture quality and capture each detail. Carrying a camera everywhere to capture precious moments is a problem of the past. The front camera feature in mobile phones has made selfies a trend and enables people to click their own pictures without any help.
Alarms & Reminders: Setting alarms and reminders for to-do tasks, important meetings, medicine timings, memorable events, routine checkups, etc at the hospital has made it easier to track the fast lifestyle of this century.
Flashlight: If stranded in a dark place and don't have a torch but a fully charged mobile phone, then no need to be scared. The flashlight feature of mobile phones is a bonus point.
Calculator and Contacts: The calculator feature in cell phones has made difficult calculations easier in an instant be it related to bills, invoices, mathematical calculations, taxes, or any other calculation. The contact storage feature in smartphones has made carrying a contact diary full of numbers a hassle of the past.
Also read: 5 Must-Have Mobile Apps for Every JEE Aspirant
Disadvantages of Mobile Phones
There are several disadvantages of using mobile phones. The following are the demerits of using mobile phones:
Distraction: With fast and neverending scrolling on mobile phone screens, people have developed a shorter concentration span and are easily distracted. Constant notification buzzes, entertainment apps be it social media or streaming services, mobile games, etc are a compelling distraction for the user.
Addiction: Nomophobia or addiction to mobile phones is a disorder in which an individual becomes incapable of stopping themselves from using mobile phones. Living without mobile phones is unthinkable for them. Too much usage of mobile phones can make a person succumb to this disadvantage of smartphones.
Sleeping Disorders: Mobile usage till late at night more often harms the sleep cycle of any individual. Such mobile-addicted people develop sleeping disorders affecting their daily lives.
Wastage of time: Mobile phones are a big cause of wastage of time. This is one of the disadvantages of mobile phones for students. Playing addictive games, helplessly scrolling through Instagram reels, watching videos on YouTube, listening to your favourite playlists, and spending hours binge-watching series on OTTs takes a lot of time which is just a wastage and otherwise would have been used to do something productive.
Effect on Study: Excessive use of mobile phones affecting their studies is another one of the disadvantages of mobile phones for students. Mobile phones are an alluring distraction from study, which affects their studies and grades.
Health Problems: Prolonged mobile phone usage is also a major reason for health problems, such as eyesight issues. Mobile phones also cause mental issues such as anger, anxiety, inferiority complex, tension, etc.
Social Isolation: Though making communication and connectivity better, being stuck on phone screens throughout the day causes social isolation as we are just focused on the world inside our screens and barely care to interact with the real outside world.
Cyberbullying: With the use of mobile phones cybercrime and cyberbullying cases have become far too normal. The cybercrime rates have increased. Posting, sending, and sharing false, negative, or harmful content about any individual has become common. A lot of teenagers and even adults have fallen victim to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is also a threat to victim's life.
Privacy and Security Risks: The sharing of personal data and information through mobile phones risks the privacy and security of the user. This data can be easily hacked, accessed unauthentically, and misused or abused. This is a threat to organizations as well as individuals. Privacy breaches and security threats are major disadvantages of using mobile phones. Scams, frauds, identity theft, etc, are some of the crimes happening due to this demerit of using mobile phones.
Vision Issues: Long screen time causes digital strain on the eyes which causes dry eyes, severe headaches, impaired or blurred vision, and eye irritation. This condition can gradually result in long-term visual damage.
Hearing Impairment: Constantly listening to music, binge-watching movies, or having lengthy conversations over calls, with earphones affects the hearing ability of the user. Research shows that using earphones with loud volume causes hearing impairment gradually.
Moderating the Use of Mobile Phones
Responsible Usage Practices: This means using mobile phones for constructive productiveness and in moderation, avoiding obsessive use. It also has to do with being aware of how and when you use your phone, and using it for meaningful purpose instead of just as a mindless distraction.
Handling Dependancies: Must be aware of and ready to handle the addiction to and dependency on mobile phones. Individuals should take right measure such as detox periods to not get addicted to mobile phones and to decrease their dependency on mobile phones.
Aware of Health Issues: Being mindful of the sever health impacts that excessive mobile phone usage has and take measures to limit mobile phone usage.
Privacy and Security: One should be wary of sharing personal information and try protecting important data on mobile phones.
Setting Limits: There must be a limited screen-time for children and adolescents, ensuring that it doesn't effect their studies, real-life interaction, and other activities.