The mobile phone has become the most used electronic device all over the
world. The number of mobile phones is increasing significantly over time as
modern mobile devices are equipped with computational powers. Mobile phones
have become so advanced these days that we can even use them to perform the
many same functions as computers.
An important advantage of mobile phones over computers is that they are
comparatively less expensive, smaller, and consume less power. However,
mobile phones are still not so advanced that we do not need computers.
However, development still continues. In this technological era, mobile
phones are also called
smartphones. Due to the increasing usage and applications, it is essential to know the
advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones in daily life.
In this article, we have covered both the advantages and disadvantages of
mobile phones. Let's check them out:
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Advantages of Mobile Phone
When it comes to the advantages or benefits of using a mobile phone, they
are numerous. Since the latest operating system on mobile phones allows
custom applications to be created by any developer, people can make various
uses of mobile phones through the application. Below, we discuss some of the
main benefits or advantages of mobile phone:
1) Easy Communication
Although the primary purpose of mobile phones was to connect people over
calls, modern phones have evolved in such a way that they can now be used
for texts, chats, and even video calls wirelessly all over the world. One of
the most important benefits of having a mobile phone is that we are always
connected to our professional
email
account and can access and reply to others as and when needed, from
anywhere.
In addition to basic communication options, mobile phones are widely used
for social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Most such
social platforms allow communication between one or more people across the
world. These social media or social network platforms are equipped with rich
features and usually allow transferring of text, images, videos, and other
media files.
2) Self Learning & Education
Students can also take advantage of mobile phones for their studies during
online classes and for self-learning through
internet
research. Thus, if used properly, mobile phones can be really helpful in the
field of education. Unlike books, students do not need to go through the
index, then chapter, then page, and then passage to find any specific little
information about any topic. Instead, they can simply use their mobile phone
and search for relevant topics on the internet instantly, reducing their
time.
Despite self-learning and online classes, students or candidates can also
fill up various forms using their mobile phones. Not only educational
material, but people can also avail mobile phones to view any recent news,
weather updates, finance-related information, and much more.
3) Online Banking & Payments
Other essential benefits of mobile phones include self-banking and cashless
payments. Presently, people can open their bank accounts digitally even from
their homes using mobile phones. They can transfer money, check transactions
and access their respective bank accounts' details on mobile using the
bank's website or application. Most of the banking operations can now be
performed by the user without the need of a bank employee.
Due to mobile banking, paying through mobile phones has also become so easy.
People do not need to carry much cash and even debit/credit cards in urban
areas. People in most countries can pay merchants directly through their
bank accounts using their mobile phones. If people require cash from an
ATM, they can also redeem it themselves using specific ATMs and their mobile
phones, without the need for a debit/credit card.
4) Easy Booking & Shopping
With mobile phones, it has become so easy to book, or shop for various items
online. Due to advancements in technology, people can book or shop directly
from their homes. They can get the desired goods delivered to their homes.
The payment can be made offline on the spot or online as prepaid.
Not just movies, mobile users can book buses, trains, flights, and even
taxis or cabs to travel from one destination to another. When it comes to
shopping, people can visit related websites or use applications to select or
find items such as toys, clothing, packaged foods, cooked foods, medicines,
dairy products, vegetables, and many more. They can order them to get them
to their doorstep. Home services for Repairs and Maintenances are also
available on mobile phones with a few clicks.
5) Entertainment Hub
Mobile phones are considered to be fully packed devices for entertainment.
This is one of the biggest advantages of mobile phones which are experienced
by people of all ages. With the use of the internet, there is no limit to
the entertainment options on mobile phones these days. People can enjoy
music, and watch video clips or movies to pass their time. Above all, even
mobile phones are equipped with the Live TV feature, allowing people to
watch their favorite TV channels anywhere.
Another great advantage of mobile phones in terms of entertainment is
gaming. Since mobile has become powerful, gaming has also advanced.
Nowadays, there is a wide range of mobile games with different features in
different categories like shooting, adventure, sports, etc. With games like
PUBG
and
BGMI, it has been seen that mobile gaming has reached a completely different
level these days.
6) Income Source & Investments
Some people use their mobile phones to maintain a luxurious lifestyle. They
use mobile phones to invest and earn a good amount of money. Business
promotion and brand awareness have also become easier with mobile phones and
social media platforms.
Generally, most people invest in the stock market, mutual funds,
cryptocurrencies, and even gambling to earn extra money. For many families,
mobile phones are also the primary source of income. Many people are earning
good money from YouTube earning, advertising and promotion.
7) Additional Gadget
Due to the increasing usage and dependence on mobile phones, they are
equipped with many additional features that help us to use our mobile phones
as other gadgets or devices. Almost every modern mobile phone is equipped
with a camera and a flashlight. While a camera helps us to take pictures or
record videos anytime, a flashlight enables us to use a mobile phone as a
flashlight in the dark or at night.
Apart from this, mobile phones also come with a clock, timer, stopwatch,
alarm, notebook, and GPS. Along with devices like IR blaster, these days’
mobile phones can also be used as remotes for smart home appliances like
TVs, air conditioners, lights, fans, etc. Innovative companies like Asus are
focusing on enabling people to experience mobile phones as real gaming
consoles.
Disadvantages of Mobile Phone
Disadvantages usually come with advantages. It is generally seen that if
something has advantages then there are also some disadvantages. Similarly,
despite many advantages, the increasing use of mobile phones is creating
many problems for the people and the environment. Following are some of the
main problems or disadvantages of mobile phones:
1) Addiction & Distraction
Since mobile phones are essential parts of human life, everyone carries
them, be it at home, offices, or while traveling. Many people, especially
youth and children, are getting addicted to mobile phones and they like to
spend their precious time using their mobile phones in playing games,
listening to music, watching movies, etc. This way of connecting with mobile
phones is increasing which is dangerous for people as it is wasting time,
distracting from goals, and even causing health issues.
Mobile phones are not only becoming addictive but also becoming a means of
distraction for people. They can distract people from their work, study, and
other essential purposes. It has been seen in most of the children that
whenever there is a sound from the mobile phone or a notification, their
attention is easily diverted during the studies. It is very common to see
that mobile phones often show notifications for new software and games to
encourage people to try them, which easily distracts people from their
goals.
2) Health Problems
Mobile phones not only create stress, increase anxiety, or disturb the peace
of mind, but also affect health physically very dangerously. Constantly
looking at a mobile screen can lead to frequent headaches, which can also
affect the eyesight over time. Children using mobile phones often feel low
vision problems and have to use glasses at a very young age.
Apart from eye problems, mobile phones also cause problems like ear pain and
hearing loss. This is usually due to prolonged calls because the sound
causes the eardrum to vibrate. Instant high and low-pitched voices often
cause problems in the ears. Despite this, using the phone continuously in
certain body positions can lead to back pain and body aches as we do not
move much, blocking blood circulation. It also gives overall results in the
form of laziness on regular days.
3) Isolation
With the increasing use of mobile phones, people do not have time to talk to
others. They usually like to spend their time alone and use their mobile
phones for gaming, chatting, listening to music, watching movies, etc.
Although many people feel good about chatting on social media using their
mobile phones, they are not very social in their personal life when
interacting face to face. Due to their lack of social interaction and
communication skills, they often prefer to live in isolation. It also
affects their career to some extent in the future.
4) Bullying
Bullying means posting, sharing, or sending negative, false, abusive, and/or
threatening content about or to another person using digital means like
mobile phones. It is widely observed that children become most aggressive
and use mobile phones to bully others online. It has been observed that
children who have mobile phones often bully those who do not have mobile
phones. After verbal bullying over the phone, children can get involved in
verbal and even physical fights, which can be dangerous.
5) Privacy & Security Concern
Mobile phone is an integral part of daily life routine. People use mobile
phones to store their personal and financial data including debit/credit
card details, net banking credentials, addresses, mobile numbers, etc.
Breaching into the phone can make all such details accessible to hackers,
resulting in loss of money, personal data, and even reputation.
Apart from this, people, these days use mobile phones for secretly taking
pictures, and recording audio or video of others. Such an image or video can
be misused in various ways. The most common examples include using images to
create fake pornographic material and then blackmailing the corresponding
individuals. In addition, people can use the images to create fake
identities on social media to spread rumors. Thus, mobile phones have a
major drawback for security and privacy.
6) Life Threats
Mobile phones can sometimes be life-threatening, which means they can put
one's life in danger. There have been many such cases where people lost
their lives due to mobile phones. The most common scenario that we can often
see is people using mobile phones while driving, or crossing the road, which
causes accidents in most of the cases. In this way, people using their
phones not only put their lives at risk but also put the lives of others at
risk.
Apart from road accidents, over time some other specific cases have been
registered where mobiles have proved to be life-threatening. Cases have been
registered in which it was claimed that mobile batteries exploded and people
were harmed. Apart from this, there have also been mobile applications like
Blue Whale, Momo, etc., due to which youth and children committed suicide or
killed others. Moreover, mobile theft is very common in many cities, causing
fighting and life-threatening.
7) Bad Environmental Impact
Researches in the past have shown that mobile phones have become the most
harmful of all electronic devices, causing huge emissions into the
environment. Most of the emissions impact comes from the production chain,
which is increasing day by day. On average, manufacturing a new mobile phone
uses almost the same amount of energy as it consumes while using it every
day (including charging) for 10 years. Thus, its production is more harmful
than using it in daily life.
Mobile phones require various elements, including metals that are usually
obtained through mining processes. The process of mining, refining,
manufacturing, and transportation around the world typically involves
massive amounts of harmful emissions, releasing more carbon into the air.
With the increasing number of mobile phones around the world, the overall
environmental impact of mobile phones has also increased significantly.
Mobile phones, especially smartphones, produce more greenhouse gases than
any other electronic device or component.
Summary
Although there are many disadvantages to using mobile phones, they are
widely used all over the world. It is our responsibility to avoid
unnecessary use of mobile phones and try not to change our mobile phones
frequently. It is up to the users to mitigate the effects of mobile phone
damage to some extent. Apart from those discussed above, mobile phones have
many other advantages and disadvantages.
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