In today’s society it is almost uncommon to not own a smart phone.

According to the website Student Science the average college student uses their smart phones about nine hours each day, which is more hours than most college students get of sleep.

Does this mean that cell phones are becoming the new drug? In many ways, cell phones are leaving consumers with common drug addiction symptoms

Many consumers use their cell phone to make them happier. It may sound silly at first but it is true. With smart phones in particular, there are apps that are available for download that are meant to entertain and keep people connected.

For some people it may be Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram for there go-to app. People spend hours on these apps and the more and more they use it the more joy and entertainment they get from it.

James Roberts, a marketing professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, says that losing a phone or having the battery die could cause anxiety or panic.

If there is a day where I leave my phone in my room or don’t have it on me it is like I am missing apart of me, I use my phone for almost everything especially to stay connected with friends, so for the days that I forget my phone or it dies early, those are the longest days,” owner and avid user of a smartphone, Matthew Standsberry, said.

Not only are people using their phones on an everyday basis but it is also affecting the ability to have face-to-face interactions. People end up feeling more confortable looking down at their screens rather than start a conversation with someone new.

Some people are scared of face-to-face interactions and realize that a text or message on Facebook is much safer and in some ways easier. Others just may not have the time to talk in person and it is more convenient.

Whatever the reasons are it does not cover up the fact that people are scared of confrontation with others and who can blame them when in today’s society it is almost seen as unusual to talk to someone new.

There are those who may disagree and say that smart phones make life easier which is true. With apps for banking, emails, and other everyday use, people have almost all of the information needed in the palm of their hands.

According to Aaron Smith, writer of S. Smartphone Use in 2015, “62 percent of smartphone owners have used their phone in the past year to look up information about a Health condition, 57 percent have used their phone to do online banking, 44 percent have used their phone to look up real estate listings or other information about a place to live, 30 percent to take a class or get educational content, 18 percent to submit a job application.”

However it does not take away from the fact that people are feeling like they “need” their phones instead of want their phone.

As more additions to smartphones are coming out having a regular cell phone may become obsolete and the interactions we have may fade away as well.

So we must ask ourselves if having a cell phone is worth giving up our personal relationships with others?

Alec Sprague
Staff Writer
Published April 27th, 2016