What if I told you that you don't even have to be using your phone -- or have it on -- in order for it to affect your cognitive capacity? Pretty wild, but it turns out to be true for many of us.
Smart phones can potentially make us smarter in some ways, like not needing to use our memory to hold many phone numbers or remember people's birthdays. This frees up space for other more important things. We can use our memory and thinking for critical analysis or even creative thinking. There are many conveniences like connecting to people from all over the world, search for something, watching shows, playing games, listening to music, etc. Smartphones have broken the barriers of technology being in a specific location, used to perform a specific task, even more than laptops did.
Everything we do seems to now be connected through one device, our smart phone. Wherever we go, there is our phone with us, ready to connect us to anything except our immediate environment that we find ourselves in. We wake up and check our phones, much like we do with computers. But as the day goes on, we keep using our phones anywhere we are. Whether we are stuck in traffic, waiting in line, or laying in bed, smart phones have connected us to more data for our attention shift it's focus around.
With an average of 85 interactions with our smartphones each day, it's no wonder that 91% of people surveyed say they never leave home without it. Smartphones have become such a part of many people's daily lives, that 46% report they wouldn't be able to live without their phones. How true that is for many of us without knowing it. Remove our phones and many of our lives would change.
We end up placing our attention on things for shorter periods of time. Even if we aren't switching from one thing to another on our phone, we're going from paying attention to our phones, then back to the environment we are in, and then back to our phones again. reduces our attention span and concentration. Concentration requires that we focus our attention on something for extended periods of time. But we are so used to seeking out stimulation for us to pay attention to, that fixating on one task becomes a problem for many of us.
Smartphones free time and memory, but unexpected deficits emerge in our ability to concentrate.
Have you ever tried writing something -- or doing something that doesn't involve your phone -- yet keep getting distracted and "interrupted" by your phone? The notifications draw our attention. Usually they are about someone contacting us, and we like getting that attention. We want to interact, give and receive attention.
What about when your phone is off? Does the mere presence of your phone keep nagging at you, almost as if it's whispering in your ear begging you to turn it on and pay attention to something? What if so-and-so send me a message? What if I'm missing an important email right no?
Our cognitive resources have a limited capacity. If we are automatically paying attention to our phone then these limited resources are being used up which causes the performance of other tasks to suffer. A new study has come out to test if the presence of a smart phone induces a "brain drain" on our control of attention.
The summary of the study is that 800 people put their phones on silent while they took a series of tests that require full concentration. Some people took the test with their phones on the desk, while others didn't have their phones in the same room. The results suggest the presence of someone's own smartphone is enough to reduce capacity to concentrate and impairs the cognitive functioning that is required at the time. Another experiment was based on how much people value their phones. Those who had the most dependence on their phone were the most negatively affected during the tests. But this was only the case if their phone was within sight.
Forcing ourselves to not do something we normally do -- like be drawn to our phones, to pay attention to them, to use them -- still has us using cognitive processes to not think. This creates a "brain drain" that affects us, such as affecting our capacity to concentrate. Tying to not use our phone, to force ourselves to not think about it, takes up cognitive power.
What's your experience with your own phone addiction, or lack thereof? Do you like to be with your phone at all times? Can you handle being without your phone for a day? Does not having your phone with you matter at all? How would your life change if smarphones were gone? In my case it doesn't matter. I don't even use it much. I do use my computer though ;)
That's pretty wild stuff. I have read before how the tone of receiving a text or message gives a similar amount seratonin (the love hormone) released into your body as when you receive a hug. We are set up to feel good about using our phones. At least once we start and become conditioned to them. I recently deleted my Instagram and Facebook from my phone and I would often find myself grabbing my phone and swiping back and forth doing nothing, where I would have previously been on one of the two sites doing the same. Kinda of scary stuff when you think about it.
Very interesting, thanks for adding that.
That is also very interesting, and more funny :) The automated habit of scrolling, expecting to do that behavior. Was there a feeling of something "lost"?
Yeah, I would flip back and forth between the two screens on my iphone that hold all my apps, with no intended purpose at all. So not scrolling, but essentially the same automated response. Honestly, it scared me a bit.
Smartphones are indeed a great technological advancement that brings so much convenience to humans. But we surely cannot neglect the downside of them and its certainly worth the attention. It's not uncommon to see children these days playing with the cell phone even if they're just kindergarten kids. This is very much worrying as the overreliance on phone not only brings about health concerns but also social problems like parents not interacting with children as well as the days when cell phones were just a device for calling. I'm not even sure if it's really good for cell phones to have evolved into what they now are.
Hehe, yeah, it used to be the TV. Put the kid in front of the TV. Then console games. Then computers. Now its smartphones... Thanks for the feedback.
I always try to remove my phone from every experience when I'm on vacation for the reasons you listed above. I honestly never wanted a smart phone (because I knew it would be highly addicting and remove my focus from more important tasks).
My first smart phone was issued by my employer (there were no "flip phone" options anymore). I found myself frequently searching the internet while I was away from a computer; checking sports scores, looking at the news, avoiding doing work...
I feel that younger generations are losing out on building interpersonal relationship skills because of how integrated smart phones (and tablets) have become in their lives. All they care about is sharing personal accomplishments on frequently single-player games. That's not actually sharing an experience..
I hope that my generation (those of us in our 30s who grew up without a cell phone / smart phone in their hands) will teach the next generation how to properly balance their real life and their digital life. Because there is no doubt that the current generation NEEDS to be involved in social media in order to keep up with society, but the extent in which they need to be involved can be significantly decreased from what I'm seeing as the current standards.
Great article again! Thanks!
Yeah, it's so addictive. I think it's just whatever is more interesting, more appealing to our interests. Work isn't as appealing lol.
How does one compete with quick access attention grabbing stuff? Keeping the mind occupied is enticing.
Thanks for the great feedback :)
I just got a brilliant idea (or at least I think so haha) ... Wouldn't it be great for the world if we had a month where no one could use their smart phone for anything outside of making a phone call!?
It would be interesting to track how much productivity would increase across the globe if it actually happened :)
Disable all wifi and mobile data? Seems impossible lol, but interesting idea. People would have to find something else to do hehe. Thanks for the feedback.
I don't know the usual protocol, but this user posted your article verbatim.
Edited out the link because you're aware now, and that user might repent...
Thanks ;)
Welcome, welcome :)
I held out a long time for a smart phone. Yes technology is a trade off. As our culture has become a ' convenience based' society. Yet with all our conveniences, tech has enslaved us and even addicted us to the point we don't get out and commune with nature anymore. Thanks for the article.
Concrete jungles are the place to be, all centralized, stacking vertically :P Thanks for the feedback, good points.
Never had this problem - my phone is always in silent mode. I just hate it buzzing and vibrating.
Keeping an object of addiction in front of an addict and telling him/her not to touch it causes a lot of unnecessary fixation on the object, which is why it is recommended people keep things they try to give up away. So I am not surprised the presence of their favorite smartphone made people less capable to focus on other things. This is really not new, but this study helps make smartphone addiction a thing) I hope we don't go diagnosing people with it because I swear there will be a pharmaceutical company selling another psychoactive drug to us.
LOL! Yeah watch out, no DSM-V for smartphone addiction... another excuse to get high with pills. Good points on the addiction aspect. Thanks for the feedback.
Personally, I would like to get rid of my phone completely. Unfortunately, it would seem that living in the modern world without one of these devices can cause discomfort for others who fear they will not be able to contact me should they have to. I appreciate and accept that smartphones can be extremely useful at times as with all technology but should I carry around a phone with me for the rest of my life just in case there is an emergency? Of course not! But when there IS an emergency will I regret not having my phone with me or switched on? Will others blame me for not being within reach when I could have been? Probably. So for that reason I must carry it with me at all times! There is no getting away from it perhaps but there was a time before these devices existed and things seemed to work ok then as far as I rememeber.
Not to mention the unknown long term health dangers posed by these 'smart' phones which we are yet to fully realise!
Yeah they are handy, but what is the real long term consequence of all this microwave energy, close to our headss, etc. Sometimes we move too fast as I see it. Thanks for the feedback.
Not a problem @krnel. Just enjoyed your latest post also! I have a young son and one day I would like him to be able to say that he became a good man not by the way his father taught him but by the way his father lived his own life.
I'm slowly trying to unlearn all of the bad habits I have been taught in my life so far in order to make that so!
Another excellent post!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Great post Krnel. My wife is encouraging me to not bring the iPad and iPhone into the bedroom. Perhaps she is on to something. 😊Shared on Facebook and twitter. Upvoted and resteemed..
Haha, yeah maybe, listen to her ;) Thanks for the feedback and support.
Wow, interesting article. Thanks for sharing 100%upvoted from @chanthasam
46% say they can't live without their phone. Wow. That is a lot of power they are giving up to a device. Incredible. This is a freaking awesome blog. Nice work. I personally try to limit my phone interactions. I try not to use it unless I have to. I'm addicted to my computer though. so Kinda the same thing. I could live without it though. I would make less money, but I could live without it.Great post.
Yeah technology, our psyche gets drawn in a lot hehe. Thanks for the feedback.
This is so true about smartphones! I always have my smartphone with me and find that I feel more comfortable when I do. I don't always look at it, but just having the accountability that it's there is enough for me. I will say, the moments where I couldn't have my phone with me, made studying that much easier. When you don't have a distraction, you don't have to worry about constantly checking it "just in case", because you can't check it anyway so you just blank it out and place all of your concentration on the current subject. And I loved the fact that you talked about the short attention span it creates, and constantly needing that "instant gratification." I believe society is so used to having something right away (thanks to phones and the internet age), that they get irritable if they go so long without it. Definitely something to think about next time you're needing your phone. A break every now and then is always healthy. Thanks for the great article :)
Great article @krnel! I've been fighting with this dilemma for a while now. While now that I work from home, I use my computer way more, I still find my phone to be a tool that I couldn't live without in the current society. And at the same time I hate that it disperses my attention constantly and takes me out of the present time environment. But the dilemma continues, as I don't have a solution for this. It will be interesting to see how smartphones effect our society 10 or even 20 years down the line. Thanks for sharing this :)
The future is phones in our brains.. lol
Lol yes exactly!
Nice article! I find it very difficult not to have some sort of device all the time. Its just like the evolution of transportation. You can live without a mobile device but, to me it's like going back to horse and buggy. Of course anything is excess is usually bad. Thanks for sharing. 😀👍
LOL, that is funny :) Thanks for the feedback.
What I dislike in my smartphone is that it makes me "use" every free minute reducing my spontaneity. I caught myself checking my Steemit feed while standing in line at checkout in the supermarket :)
Haha, yeah I don't even use my data unless I need to and turn it on.
A good idea)
It is shocking how technology enslaved the masses, they are literally plugged in. Please be aware! Very hot subject, thanks for the article!
Yeha, and many want more technology to directly be put into their bodies... hehe. Thanks for the feedback.
Very informative and eye opening topic. It's true that people nowadays are heavily relying on their mobile phones. As for me, it is my main source of income. Why? When you do stock/ forex trading, you need to stay updated with the online prices or when you are about to sell something, majority of the leads come from the internet. Our world is becoming online now. We already passed through the industrial age wherein the kind of work must be physical. It's quite an advantage because executions are made fast and automatic. But somehow, it deteriorates some our our cognitive abilities that only physical activities and interactions can offer. Well, I think the best solution for that is to strike a right balance of having both online and physical life. It's possible by setting up a schedule, let's say, "4 times a day I will check my mobile phone- all the messages and emails on it at these corresponding time schedule." It's really important to have a mental discipline to do that.
Good points, being disciplined about it can keep you sharper ;)
60 minutes featured a piece about this subject recently that touches on a lot of these ideas and speaks to some programmers http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hooked-on-phones/
Yeah teens are pretty hooked. I didn't grow up with cellphones, so I didn't get that conditioning, but with smartphones its even more attention grabbing with all the stuff you can do.
It does make me weak which could usually makes my drain. Technology has it advantage for some reason, but if its usage is not moderated, it has bigger disadvantage.
Yeah, it's great, but we need to be aware of some things too. A double-edged sword.
The do's and dont's edge?
Good post. People should experiment and reflect on the cost and benefits of their use of technology. I'm sure they'll find improvements to be made with how they integrate it into their lives.
Personally, I reject the idea of retaining a permanently open line for incoming communication. I have difficulty understanding how one can muster up the deepest levels of focus knowing that they can be interrupted from around the world at any moment. I really like to set aside my time and immerse myself in whatever I'm doing as wholly as possible. Subsequently, I often deliberately leave my phone away from my person or switch it onto airplane mode.
I've thought about giving up my smartphone, but it's really too convenient. For maps, public transport timetables and music/podcast/audiobooks alone I find it is a highly valuable piece of equipment worth keeping around.
Yeah eh... "you can always contact me, I'll always pickup" lol. Thanks for the feedback. It's very handy indeed. I use it when needed hehe.
A study recently came out showing accelerated brain atrophy on the part of people's brain that has to do with how to tell what direction you are headed in. The theory was that since people mostly rely on their GPS or phone to tell the where to drive, that part of the brain is simply shriveling up.
Smartphones have changed our lives! I remember when my life changed SEGA!
lol, I can relate.
LOL... ah yes, sonic the hedgehog. I had a Sega, not an SNES. Less good games overall, but I did play a few sonic games hehe.
I loved my Sega. Remember when 32-bit systems first came out!? Oh so many more colors!! :)
Oh, I still have my original Sega Genesis and Sega Game Gear!
YES!! Great read! Another great reason to start a meditation practice. Our minds are at capacity and need a break.
Hehe, yeah a break is good. but we have sleep for that, no? :P hehe
I did realize one thing, eveytime I use my phone in bed, somehow I can't sleep, it has full control over me and i just keep watching it even when im dead tired.
So now I just dont look on the phone, not even to see what time i went to bed, and just fall a sleap instantly.
Watching my phone ind bed at night has done some seriously insomnia damage to my brain.
Good to know. Even the lights from a laptop or tablet can keep you up too.
what if we use our smart phone to STEEM?
No phones during dinner is a rule for us and a welcome break. Great post!
Great idea. "Eat quick so I can get back tot he phone!"
I need to have my phone. That GPS google maps is a life saver. If I didn't have it, I wouldn't know how to get around. Very sad but true!
Yes we need maps, it's much handier to have it on a phone and it doesn't wear out like a paper map ;)
hahah and the left and right directions! love that!
I have mine on silent, no vibration. I'll check it when I feel like it, perhaps not in hours if I'm practicing golf (a form of meditation). After a while the people around you get used to your phone behavior and all is as usual.
OMG its true !
Good work @krnel upvoted and resteemed
And if I use my phone to STEEM?