Is Your Cell Phone Hurting You?

I recently said to my 11-year-old twin daughters, “I didn’t grow up with the Internet. In fact, remember, I didn’t even have a smart phone until you were 7 years old—just a few years ago!” They both looked at me bug-eyed, and in unison said, “Really?? But how did you do anything? You need the Internet and your phone to do everything!” 

When you stop to think about it, it is truly amazing to think about the radical changes to our lifestyles directly resulting from smartphones. For example, who still carries around a flashlight or a point-and-shoot camera or a GPS or an alarm clock or a voice recorder? I could go on and on … I think it’s clear that smartphones have definitely been a positive change in our lives, but at what cost?  

Researchers are just beginning to discover the real impact on our health and our social interactions. 

Cells Phones and Spinal Pain

According to a recent article in the Washington Post, cell phone use is creating a serious spinal problem. The article explains that although the human head weighs only about 12 pounds, the more you bend it, the greater the strain you put on your spine. It goes on to explain that holding your head at 60 degrees (which apparently is a common bend for cell phone users) is the equivalent of 60 lb. of weight. So for me that would be like carrying one of my 11-year-old twin daughters around my neck.

The article also states that most adults spend an average of 1,000 hours per year hunched over their phones. Doctors are finding that this activity is increasing the incidence of pinched nerves, muscle strain, and herniated disks. And as you might guess intuitively, teens are even worse—their heads are bent as much as 5,000 hours a year! Doctors say that this bad posture destroy spines, reduces lung capacity, causes headaches, and has even been linked to depression. Apparently, this problem is becoming so common that it has its own medical nickname: “text neck.”

Besides causing long-term damage, all this pain can greatly hamper your ability to communicate effectively or patiently (I know I’m less tolerant when I have a headache) and may even affect your productivity. I’m sure you know from your own experience that when you are in pain, it makes it harder to think and get things done. 

I don’t think the solution is to stop using our phones all together, but certainly reducing our phone screen time is useful (hmmm … maybe that’s the angle the smart watch sellers should take?) In the meantime, for those of us without a smart watch, doctors suggest that a simple fix is to raise the phone to you.  Bring it up high enough so you can look with your eyes, without dropping your head. Be aware of your head and shoulder posture, not only while using the phone, but while using the computer, and even while reading. Good posture contributes to good spinal health and to a good mood, and therefore more positive communicaton. 

Cell Phones and Relationships

But physical health isn’t the only issue. Hunching over our phones means we are not interacting with those around us. Did you know that even the presence of a phone has adverse effects on relationships?

A very interesting study was done at the University of Essex. Strangers were paired up to discuss either a casual topic or personal topic. Some had a cell phone on a table several feet away, out of their direct line of vision. The researchers wanted to know if even just the presence of a cell phone nearby had any effect on how these strangers connected. The results were surprising. While the phone’s presence had no effect on those who were talking about casual topics, strangers who were talking about an important event in their lives were affected. They experienced less mutual trust and rated their partners as much less empathetic than the strangers who talked about their feelings with no cell phone present. When the cell phone was nearby, they felt the other person was less interested in them and their thoughts or feelings.

In yet another study, researchers observed people who already knew each other. These researchers found similar results and that “conversations in the absence of mobile communication technologies were rated as significantly superior compared with those in the presence of a mobile device.” Even those who already had close relationships “reported lower levels of empathy” during their conversation than couples who weren’t as close but didn’t have a cell phone in hand.

Isn’t that ironic? The cell phone, which is supposed to connect you to the whole world, actually makes it harder for you to connect with the person directly across from you. Researchers speculate that, for the very reason that the cell phone does connect us to the world, its presence reminds us of that broader world and somehow subconsciously distracts us with that knowledge—or at least each one thinks the other person is distracted! When no cell phone is present, the people were unquestionably focused on each other. But even just the presence of a cell phone prevented that same connection.

When NOT to Use a Cell Phone

The cell phone is a very helpful tool, but if not used wisely, it can be harmful—to our health, relationships, and career. I know an accountant who was interviewing two women for the same position, both equally qualified. During an interview, one of the women was looking into her lap, fingers obviously moving. (Yes, she was texting!) It only lasted a brief moment, but it happened. My friend politely finished the interview, then promptly hired the other woman.

Here’s another recent example. Ruthie Anne Miles recently accepted a Tony Award, and read her acceptance speech from her iPhone. Sweet speech, but watch the clip and ask yourself: Did she seem confident? Connected? Were you focused on her, or did you find yourself wondering what kind of phone it was? Why didn’t she stop once the warning drums were played? Awkward!

My advice: Ditch the phone when at home, on first dates, interviews, and when having important conversations. Or of course, when you deliver your next Tony Acceptance speech!

This is Lisa B. Marshall helping you to lead and influence.  If you’d like to learn more about compelling communication, I invite you to read my bestselling books, Smart Talk and Ace Your Interview and listen to my other podcast, Smart Talk. As always, your success is my business. 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.