Social Change from Cell Phones

Cell phones have created one of the biggest social changes in human history. We as people have gone from speaking face to face, to call each other on the phone occasionally, to today where we all carry a computer in our pockets that can do anything you want it to. We as people have gone from being social with one another to posting things on social media. It’s crazy to think that just 25 years ago you couldn’t communicate with someone else across town without being at home using the telephone. Cell phones have changed us socially in a drastic way. It has changed the way we communicate with one another, it has changed how we interact with others, and it has changed the way we act in public places and social gatherings.

One of the things that cell phones have changed drastically is the way we communicate with others. With the birth of cell phones eventually came the invention of text messaging, or “texting.” Texting is sending simple messages over the air to another cell phone. People these days, especially the younger generation, find it much easier and quicker to text a person rather than call them or talk to them face to face. “Text messaging is the premier choice” says Jaletta Desmond, an expert on how cell phones have changed us over time. The reason why most of the younger generation prefers texting rather than talking is because they don’t value talking out loud one on one as much as the older generation does. Another reason why texting is the first choice for most people is that it gives a sense of privacy. No one can put their ear to the door and hear your texting conversation. In this day in age, we’ve made it nearly impossible to get in touch with others without having a cell phone on you. Cell phones have just become p...

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...ionships. “Effectively maintain and enhance (and sometimes end) social relationships.” (Ira Hyman) Ira explains that cell phones and more specifically texting, for teenagers at least, is a great way to be in touch with your close friends. But these friendships cannot be solely over text message. They must be in real life as well. Cell phones, and more specifically texting, have created a lack of patience. We have started to expect responses immediately. “Young adults texts more, use texts to contact friends, and expect quicker responses” (Ira Hyman). This expectancy of instantaneous responses along with a lack of patience can cause teenagers to get angry quicker as well. This also creates a lack of focus when interacting with other people in real life. They feel the constant need to check their phones. All of these combined is not a good way to interact with others.