KARACHI:
Yes, we have to admit that life without mobile phones will be difficult, considering our dependence on it. But no matter how useful it might be, we cannot ignore the underlying negative effects that cellphones can have on the mind and body.
Nomophobia is a proposed name for a phobia of not having your cellphone with you. About 50% of teenagers admit being addicted to their phones. They claim that they very quickly become anxious if their phones are not with them. The average person checks his/her phone once every 12 minutes — which means that he/she is picking up his phone approximately 80 times a day. In many instances, people become so addicted that checking their phone without a reason becomes a regular habit. Even when people are not using their phones, you might see them fidgeting with it. Studies show that such mobile addiction is often linked to cases of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. With the rage of social media, teenagers are becoming more and more obsessed with likes and comments on their posts, which has reduced their daily physical interactions, in turn leading to loneliness and anxiety.
We may not be able to live without our phones but we can take steps to reduce its negative effects. For example, we can reduce or regulate the time we spend on our phones. We can force ourselves to communicate with people face to face whenever possible instead of relying on our phones for every small task. This way, we can focus on the positives and reduce the negatives.
Hammal Zahid
Kolahoo
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2022.
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