Social and Mental Problems Caused by Using Mobile Phones

We've all heard people seemingly ranting to themselves and wondered if they had mental health issues, only to then spy a Bluetooth headset on their ear. What if the first impression was correct? Some experts are growing increasingly concerned that cell phone use can become a form of addiction. Others lament the lack of etiquette displayed by mobile phone users in public places. Sometimes the effort to stay in touch at all times can leave us out of touch with the things and people that matter most.

Mobile Phone Addiction

• After spending an average of six hours a day on their mobile phones, two children aged 12 and 13 were admitted to the Child and Youth Mental Health Centre in Lleida, northeast Spain. Their cell phone use was causing problems with their grades at school and difficulty in leading normal lives. Their case is becoming increasingly common, with at least three cases of mobile phone addiction reported in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the University of Maryland's International Center for Media & the Public Affairs conducted a study of 1,000 cell phone users aged 17 to 23. The study found that a majority showed symptoms of "withdrawal," such as confusion and depression, after spending a single day without their mobile phones and gadgets.

Other Risks of Mobile Phone Use

• Mobile phone use in children and adolescents is difficult for adults to supervise. Children can be victims of cyber-bullying without an adult knowing. A study conducted in 2003 by the Center on Media and Child Health found that cell phone use can lead to trouble with sleep, leading to fatigue and trouble focusing during the day. A 2005 study from the same organization found a correlation between heavy cell phone use and low self-esteem.

Social Problems with Mobile Phone Use

• The Australian etiquette expert June Dally-Watkins laments the use of mobile phones at the dinner table and in restaurants. Mobile phone use can hinder important face-to-face communication and disrupt the ambiance of a restaurant. New York's city council in 2006 considered an ordinance to ban cell phone use in "white linen" restaurants during dinner hours, but ultimately decided against it after complaints from some restaurant owners.

Coping with Mobile Phone Addiction

• Psychologist Dr. John M. Grohol recommends several exercises to help manage and overcome a mobile phone addiction. Track your cell phone use by keeping a journal of your time spent texting, chatting and playing games on your phone. Start weening yourself off by attempting to cut usage by 10 percent the first week. Commit to being in the moment -- turn off your phone, or at least the ringer, when engaged in face-to-face communication. Begin to understand that real relationships are not dependent on short text messages, and that if something was truly time-sensitive, you would be called -- emails and texts can wait.