Mobile Phone: Best or Worst Thing to Happen to Society? - Jonah Engler

Mobile Phone: Best or Worst Thing to Happen to Society?

Ten years ago, seeing a young child with a mobile phone in their hands would be a rare sight.

Kids were expected to use the landlines at school or at a friend’s house when they needed to reach their parents, and entertainment came in the form of playing video games or biking outside rather than from a mobile device. But these days, almost every school-aged child has their own smartphone, complete with calling, texting, and internet access. Is this shift good for our kids, or is it too much, too soon?

The main reason why young kids are getting cell phones at such an early age is because parents want to be accessible. When mom and dad work during the day, they want to know their child is getting home safe from school and where they’ll be in the afternoon. A quick text is all they need to know how their kid is doing or where they are, which wasn’t possible before cell phones. And in this day and age, kids having cell phones during school hours is necessary in case of an emergency on school grounds.

It can’t be denied that having that access to the outside world is definitely helpful. And since mobile phones are expensive and come with pricey monthly plans, giving one to a child can teach them an important lesson about responsibility and the value of a dollar.

However, we all know kids aren’t just using their mobile phones for practical uses. Wherever you go, be it a restaurant or a family gathering, you’ll see kids on their phones, playing games or texting friends rather than socializing. It’s good that kids can be in contact with their friends at all times, but the constant screen time prevents them from interacting with the outside world, which could stunt their social development.

This can also cause classroom disruptions if children are using their phones during school hours, preventing them from paying attention to lessons. And the worst case scenario for a child with a smartphone is that they’ll be able to access inappropriate websites or social media apps, possibly putting them in danger.

Mobile phones and smartphones have become the technology of the future, and they make our day-to-day life easier. Mobile phones have some great benefits, but before giving one to your child, think about all the different ways they’ve changed our lives—good and bad.

Jonah Engler is a financial expert from New York.