Argumentative Essay: The Dangers Of Cell Phones

Dangers of Cell Phones
The world’s first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973, when Martin Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola, called a rival telecommunications company and informed them he was speaking via a mobile phone. The phone Cooper used, if you could call it that, weighed a staggering 1.1kg and measured in at 228.6x127x44.4mm. With this prototype device, you got 30 minutes of talk-time and it took around 10 hours to charge.”(knowyourmobile). Back then cell phones weren’t as flashy but everyone was just as excited for them as they are now. “Many of the early cell phones were considered to be “car phones,” as they were too large and cumbersome to carry around in a pocket or purse. However, in 1983, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x arrived on the market. Though huge by today’s standards, it was considered the first truly mobile phone because it was small enough to carry.”(artinstitutes).
Cell Phones have many advantages two of them being they are wireless and easy way to get a hold of family when needed. There are also disadvantages to them. Things such as they are a leading cause cancer because they

let off radiation, also they are a major distraction in people’s day-to-day lives, one major distraction the play a role in is car accidents. Last but not least they can harm you not only physically but mentally other than leading to cancer. Health issues caused around the world, letting off radiation, and being a distraction are all reasons why cell phones are dangerous.
The major reason why cell phones started getting popular in the 70’s and 80’s is because of the wireless connection.

As time went on the technology advanced and more positive things came along examples of pros of having a cell phone would be easy to keep in touch because you have a phone on you at all times, most cell phones have plans that help you save for example the $45 plan, and also they are safe when it comes to being able to contact someone in case of an emergency. You can access the internet without having to be at a computer or at laptop, you don’t even have to be at home anymore because there is now something called cellular data. Cellular data is “The transmission of data via cellphone. Also called "mobile data" and a separate service from voice calling, cellular data is used for e-mail, Web pages, media and app downloads and software

updates.”
There are also just as many and more cons about cell phones. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's “The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF radiation as a "possible human carcinogen.””The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a carcinogen as "Carcinogen is an agent that causes cancer.” RF radiation is Radiofrequency radiation. This is important to know because The National Cancer Institute have concluded that cell phones emit RF radiation. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says that RF travels when the phone is turned on. The risk decreases the further away the phone is. Ex. Texting(30-40 cm) vs. Calling. (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety). The closer the phone is the stronger RF you receive from your device.
They also define RF radiation as Radiofrequency energy is a form electromagnetic radiation and breaks down to non-ionizing and ionizing. To ionize means to “convert (an atom, molecule or substance) into an ion or ions typically by removing electrons (google dictionary). “Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as radiation therapy, is known to increase the risk of cancer.” (National Cancer Institute). This isn’t the health problem that cell phones can cause.
People around the world are starting to be harmfully addicted to their phones. Some of the symptoms of them many are: Texting Claw, Cell Phone Elbow, iPosture, Text Neck, Nomophobia, and Phantom Pocket Vibration Syndrome. They may not seem like a big deal to the world but when it becomes a severe issue like it is slowly becoming then people will start to realise how big of a problem this really is.
Texting Claw is described as “finger cramping and sore muscles that come from continuous scrolling, texting, and gaming on smartphones. An even more common side effect: Using your phone too much can cause inflammation in your tendons and enhance existing conditions, like tendinitis and carpal tunnel.” by www.goodhousekeeping.com. This condition is similar to Cell Phone Elbow, which is “tingling or numbness in ring and pinky fingers after bending your elbow for long periods of time.” (goodhousekeeping). These are caused by overuse of cellphones. Unfortunately this is not the worst of the effects, next iPosture and Text Neck.
iPosture and Text Neck are two terms doctors can and do use to help describe the symptoms to patients. Both of the symptoms are from causing stress on the neck by slouching over the phone while texting, gaming, and being on social media for long periods of time. This is pulling on the muscles and tendons in the back and neck causing sharp pains to run through.
“The irrational fear of being without your mobile phone or being unable to use your phone for some reason, such as the absence of a signal or running out of minutes or battery power.” (TechTarget). This definition is describing Nomophobia, this fear is bad for our world because we are all becoming too reliant on technology, this including cell phones. With cell phones starting to become the center of lives the more withdraw people will become from the outside world and then people won’t know what’s going on around them because they are not focused.
The last example is called Phantom Pocket Vibration Syndrome. This when someone believes their phone is vibrating from receiving a text message, call, or some sort of notification, when it obviously isn’t happening. This can happen when the phone is ether on or off and if they are on your body or not. Mental Health Daily gives the definition as “an individual falsely perceiving that their cell phone is either vibrating or ringing at a time when it clearly isn’t. “ This effect is not a rare problem everyone is so used to their phones that they expect some type of notification throughout the day.
Teens that are in school are too busy in social media that they can’t focus on learning and passing classes. They are so involved with drama on things like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Messenger, Wish, Tumblr, Instagram, MeetMe and so on and so forth that they fail classes and try to play catch up. Cell phones are ruining the future or the free world by pulling them out. It’s not even just teens today there are kids running around with Iphones and Galaxy’s and they are getting all this updated technology which distracts them from learning and doing homework just as much as adults and teens.
Teens also are risking not only their lives but putting other lives in danger as well by being on their phones while driving. Huffington Post says that 9 American are killed everyday due to distracted driving. It just takes 3 seconds for a wreck to happen, while driving it takes an average person 5 seconds to text back (ibtimes). 1.3 million car accidents were caused by texting and driving (refinery29).