Purpose of the study
This essay seeks to identify and discuss the consequences that the use of mobile phones has had on society and the health of the users. It is widely believed that the advent of mobile phones has changed human communication while the effects on the health of the users have been underplayed.
Positive effects on society
Mobile technology has brought tremendous changes to human communication. The time and space continuum has been drastically reduced. The difference in time between two people talking on mobile phones is no longer existent. The space between them has been diminished. You can talk to a person many miles away in real-time. Unlike the traditional fixed-line, you can talk while on the move (that is why it is called a mobile phone) while the person on the other end too can move without breaking the ongoing communication.
Secondly, mobile phones have contributed to positive human relationships. From anywhere, anybody with your numbers can call or text you to find out what you are doing. People stay connected and accessible to those close to them: be it the family, friends, or workmates. It has bolstered personal security in case you are stranded or involved in a road accident you can reach for help. People buy phones to be reachable in times of emergency.
Mobile phones have considerably cut time, money, and energy used in day-to-day living and business. Instead of wasting time by writing a letter, buying stamps, and posting it then wait for the recipient to reply via the same means you can call albeit cheaply, and get an immediate reply. Mobile phones help business people to carry out transactions, negotiations and stay in contact with their office for 24 hours a day.
The current mobile phones in the markets come with business applications as standard features. They allow email, internet, and other facilities that an office computer has. The key advantage here is being mobile and at the same time being effective as if you are there in person. Business decisions are made within a relatively short time (Wei & Kolko, 2007).
Negative on individual health
One of the raging endless debates on mobile telephony is on the effects of radiation that mobile phones emit when they are in use, on human health. Many studies have been made to investigate these effects. Before 1998, the amount of radiation emitted by these phones and the base stations was found to have adverse effects on human health. From there onwards, mobile phone manufacturers have been urged to produce phones with minimal radiation that do not have health impacts on the users. There are unfounded claims that prolonged use of mobile phones causes many cancers especially those associated with the reproductive system.
It must be noted that these studies do not yet have scientific evidence but the suggestions and indication are strong. Currently, there are strong indications that mobile phone use causes memory loss and could trigger brain tumors.
Secondly, it has been observed that mobile phone has created an addiction to the users. For some people, life is virtually incomplete without a mobile phone. It is an integral device in the life of addicted users. This addiction is quite common with teenagers. They can do all in their power to buy the latest mobiles phones in the market, writing several short messages during the day and accessing social sites like Facebook.
Mobile phones have been blamed on making people attend to them during important ongoing activities. A significant portion of road accidents has been blamed on drivers who use their phones while driving. When they ring they cause disturbances. Take example during a quiet church sermon, a mobile with the lewd song as a ringing tone rings. Whenever there is a meeting of people and a mobile phone rings, they must attend to it. They have overtaken attention in any kind of social interaction regardless of its importance.
References
Wei, C. & Kolko, B.E. (2007). Studying Mobile Phone Use in Context: Cultural, Political, and Economic Dimensions of Mobile Phone Use. New York: Cengage Learning.