How Your Phone Changes the World

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by Layla Maciejka

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Could you live without your phone? What if I took it away right now? Over the past couple of decades, cell phones have become an increasingly prominent aspect of our everyday lives. We all know what the flashy commercials tell us about them but how do they really affect people? Do the pros outweigh the cons?

Every single day, billions of people bring their cellphones into the workforce alongside them. Dominique Maciejka is a business owner of over a decade and her viewpoints on cell phones may surprise you. Cell phones have rendered computers obsolete in her role as an owner. She says that all her promotions, contacting, and ordering needs can be met right through the screen in her hand. There is a major downside to this convenience, her customers have it too. Dominique explained how reverse image search and sites like Amazon make it difficult to mark up products as clientele price compare, “There is always somebody on the internet able to undercut your prices.”

The perspective of a doctor, however, is one we may not normally consider. Kate Maciejka has been working in hospitals since long before cell phones, as we know them today, became a thing and she says that as a cardiac anesthesiologist, the impact of cellphones creates varying emotions. She highlights how quickly she is notified about patients saying, “I can be reached easily in case of emergency, I can be quickly notified about any urgent issues with my patients by text or call…” continuing with the ease of communication and documentation for herself, “I can quickly reach any number of my colleagues with any questions regarding assistance, scheduling, coordinating patient care, etcetera, I can check important work emails very easily, I can upload my yearly physical, and complete CME credits.” When asked about the cons, she was quick to respond, “All of the above is now expected so if there is a lack of signal or a phone malfunctions, it’s a source of frustration and stress. It has happened that the cell phone battery died, I didn’t realize, and someone was trying to get in touch with me and couldn’t. That can create a dangerous situation in my line of work.”

As a mother, her perspective is similar. She feels a sense of security knowing that “I can get in touch with my child anytime in case of an emergency and others can contact me to notify me of any emergency.” She also mentions more opportunity to have contact throughout the day, making planning and scheduling easier. Despite this, a major con for her is, “If for some reason we can’t reach each other, it causes worry and distress.” She also denotes that, “as a parent you worry about your child using the internet and social media properly and in moderation, predators having access to your kids.” Cell phones have infiltrated our personal lives and college freshman Nicola Ajodhia admits that while cell phones allow her to communicate with family and friends, provide entertainment, and stay up to date on news, she feels that they can become addicting and social media can spread misinformation and be harmful.

Nicola says that as a student, cellphones are helpful in the sense that she can easily communicate with her teachers, access the internet, and “enhance education and learning”. Regardless, she says that her cellphone can sometimes become a distraction from her schoolwork. Professor Alan Holzer, who teaches accounting at New York Institute of Technology, weighed in on his perspective as an educator since 2015. The impact on the educational environment is complicated. He says, “I think technology, overall, has a positive impact on everything…” adding, “…people have become too dependent on their phones.” He notes how useful it is that students have him at their disposal outside of the classroom saying that our phones are a “valuable tool” but “overused."

The overwhelming majority of people claim that cellphones have been personally beneficial and most agree that they have been beneficial for society as a whole, according to a 2019 study done by the Pew Research Center. Ten out of the eleven countries surveyed have presented reports where eleven percent or less of those surveyed believe cellphones have had an overall negative impact on them. While fewer people align with the statement that cellphones have been good for society as opposed to them personally, an incredibly significant amount of people are happy with the role they play in their lives. This begs the question, are we assuming more harm for others than exists or are we ignoring the negative impacts present in our own lives?

No matter the walk of life, cellphones play an integral part in our day-to-day lives. They have become a part of our culture and behaviors, causing a slew of changes we must adapt to. Take a moment today to look up from your screen and see where this tool positively impacts your life and where it’s more trouble than it’s worth; can the old fashioned way do it better? Whether we like it or not, it looks like they’re here to stay.

 

This article was originally written for the author's FCWR 101-W09 class and is reprinted here with the Professor's permission.