Mobile phones have been the biggest technology icon of the 21st century, providing so many features for users to enjoy, however is that screen affecting your life?

All it takes these days is a click of a button to talk to anyone, anywhere, communication has never been more efficient. Although it is a fantastic short cut, we may be shielding ourselves from traditional conversation and damaging our relationships in the real world.

What we see on social media is merely a representation of an ideal realm, it creates false expectations when we see glamour photos and epic videos. We begin to see the real world in a darker light and our phone screens become an escape from what we see as a poor reality.

Studies found some concerning statistics, over a third of 18-24-year-olds in the UK check their phone in the middle of the night, and almost a fifth check their phone the moment they wake up. Such an obsession can cause anxiety and is linked to sleep loss, worsening moods and cyber bullying.

Excess use of mobile phones can also have a knock-on effect on student performance, with revision and homework becoming a stuttered task due to the repeated urge for young people to check on social media instead. Revising via phone is a bad idea as it is too easily to be sidetracked by social media, it is notoriously addictive.

It becomes far easier for students to memorise video content, lyrics, web pages etc rather than notes, as this information is entertaining and interactive. It’s something that’s commonly shared among teenagers. By the time it’s exam season, students are under mental strain, cramming in too much information in too little time, however most are unable to process information from paper and books like they can from a screen, as a screen is far better at engaging the brain.

A few tips to help suppress mental problems would be to switch evening activities to physical activity, socialising or reading books, instead of sticking to the screen. This will improve sleep as the brain disengages quicker without lighting. This could help improve your next day massively, feeling refreshed and positive instead of depressed and strained!

Written by Harrison Jones

References: https://www.anxiety.org/smartphone-use-and-its-relationship-to-anxiety-and-depression https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/12/11/phone-addiction-is-real-and-so-are-its-mental-health-risks/#51dc3dc513df https://hackernoon.com/how-much-time-do-people-spend-on-their-mobile-phones-in-2017-e5f90a0b10a6 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37468560 http://www.momjunction.com/articles/side-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-teenagers_00352682/#gref