Technology has literally transformed our daily lives and mobile phones and what we currently do with them are vivid examples of this. Technology and mobile phones are capable of increasing our productivity and convenience, but it’s about how we use them, hence they can also be counter-productive when we use them wrongly. Today, almost everybody with or without the slightest idea of technology carries a mobile phone to keep connected with the world. Mobile phones, particularly smartphones, have become an integral part of our lives and many of us cannot even imagine living without them. Mobile phones, as earlier mentioned above, also has disadvantages that we cannot disregard. The important thing, however, is to create such a balance that we can take full advantage of technology without falling prey to its darker side. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones that we need to consider:
Advantages
– Mobile phones enable us to stay connected with other people in the world with convenience and at a cheap cost.
– Mobile phones are also very easy to carry and do not require a huge learning curve to get started. Almost everyone can start making calls right after they have purchased their first phone.
– Mobile phones also have the advantage of enabling us to connect with others in a variety of ways such as through calls, text messages (SMS), emails, photo sharing, MMS etc., on the go.
– With Mobile phones these days, we now carry out financial transactions, such as mobile banking and payment of bills conveniently. Most of the 2015’s hottest African start ups went this way to achieve their successes.
– Mobile phones are particularly helpful in emergency situations as they are used to call for help and contact the outside world when in danger.
– Recent advancements in hardware and software technologies have also made phones a personal, portable and compact media centre. Users are able to enjoy their favourite games, music, TV shows and videos on the go.
Disadvantages
The question is not if the mobile phones are bad or not when it comes to its disadvantages. It is all about how we use them.
– One of the disadvantages of Mobile phone is that it can be a source of constant interruption and distraction which can be frustrating when one is engaged in a task that requires maximum concentration. One can get distracted when it starts to ring in the middle of such tasks. It is also always tempting to want to read all the messages and notifications that come in and are waiting for our responses.
– The excessive use of mobile phones can also turn into an unbreakable addiction. These days, it is common sight to find someone walking on a busy road and still pinging away on his Mobile phone. Serious accidents have been known to have occurred in such cases. Accidents have also been known to have taken a lot of lives through the use of phone while driving due to distractions and there is the need for curbing phone addiction.
– Loss of privacy is another concern when it comes to Mobile phones, especially smartphones. There is always a possibility of losing your phone which can expose your personal information and data to strangers.
– Excessive use of Mobile phones can also lead to reduced physical interaction with people which can adversely affect the social lives of people.
– Another disadvantage of Mobile phones, especially smartphones, is that you information and data are always at the risk of being hacked if you fail to take the necessary security precautions.
Well, there you have it. All you need is to make the best use of your Mobile phones to enjoy the advantages and take the necessary steps to avoid experiencing the disadvantages as these depend, to a large extent, on usage. What do you think? We will like to know.
