Smart phones have now become one of necessities for all ages. According to Korean National Statistical Office, about 90.6% of Korean citizens own smart phones. People use smart phones for many purposes. Before the development of smart phones, people used cell phones for text messaging and calling. However, as technologies advanced, new functions such as Social Networking Service (SNS), mobile web surfing, and apps emerged. New functions made life more enjoyable and convenient. Nevertheless, several problems followed advantages.
 
The most serious problem is smart phone addiction. Smart phone addiction is common in age group from teenager to twenties. I surveyed 20 students in school about hours of cell phone use in one day. Of 20 students, 15 students answered that they use smart phones more than 3 hours. 4 students said that they use smart phones for between 2 hours and 3 hours. 1 student responded that they use smart phones less than 1 hour. 15 students answered that they check their phones before they go to bed and after they wake up. They also responded that they use smart phones even when they walk on the street or even in school break times. These students use smart phones whenever they have time to use them. This survey results show that smart phones became a part of student’s life.
 
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Addiction or overuse of smart phones is harmful to one’s life. People who are addicted to smart phones experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are symptoms that occur when a person quits an addiction and constantly craves it back. Withdrawal symptom for cell phone addiction is that people feel the strong urge to use cell phones. Therefore, people are not able to perform their day-to-day tasks properly because they are tempted to use smart phones even when they are working or studying.

In addition, people became dependent on cell phones as smart phones contain diverse functions like SNS. SNS is a social networking service that allows communication online. Today, SNS such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter are necessary for teenagers and young adults. Since people can communicate through these apps, they do not care about direct interaction and formation of relationship. More people tend to form relation through online contacts. However, online relationships often fail to create close relationships. According to the Nationwide Building Society, young generations who frequently use social media feel lonelier than old generation. Moreover, incendiary information on SNS hugely affect and instigate people especially teenagers. Smart phones increase the access to this information. SNS is a place where users upload their opinions about several topics. Opinion of famous SNS users affects other people who watch it. Therefore, people might develop biased point of view.

Even though new smart phone technologies and functions bring about more comfortable lives, there are also side effects that follow. In order to prevent such side effects, people should make efforts to use smart phones efficiently and wisely by restricting the place or time of using smart phones and checking if smart phones are negatively affecting their life.
 









Joonhyung Ahn
11th grade
Seoul Scholars International
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