The advent of the smartphone, comprising of computing capabilities not originally associated with telephones, undeniably changed the way that humans operate and interact.

In 1994, International Business Machines (IBM) released the Simon Personal Communicator, commonly known as the IBM Simon – the first smartphone and the device that introduced touch screens to phones. The IBM Simon featured a 60 by 293 pixel monochrome display and offered mobile applications such as a calendar, email, address book, notepad and the ability to send faxes.

But humans could not stop there, and understandably so. With a device that greatly augmented the convenience of everyday life, it was only logical to improve upon such an instrument. After all, the IBM Simon only had a battery life of just around an hour – a mere fraction of the typical eight-to-twelve-hour battery life of modern smartphones.

So, substantial improvements were made over time including the incorporation of front and back-facing cameras, video-recording capabilities, higher screen resolutions and remarkable storage capabilities. In 2020, a staggering 96 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 44 were reported to have a smartphone, according to Statistics Canada.

I am fully supportive of smartphones in life, and it would certainly be hypocritical for me to state otherwise, as I sport an iPhone in my pocket. I have owned a smartphone for eight years now, since first acquiring a Moto G 3rd generation. The ability to be readily connected with loved ones and staying informed is undeniable. After all, what if someone around me or myself is in an immediate emergency?

Yet, I would be remiss if I did not address the pitfalls of smartphones.

In August, the Manitoba government announced a cellphone ban in classrooms starting in September. For students in kindergarten to grade eight, cellphone use will be banned during all school hours, while for grades eight to twelve, the ban applies only during class time. The ban aims to limit distractions and augment focus – an initiative I fully support. A recent publication in the journal Nature revealed that the mere presence of a smartphone to participants aged 20 to 34 reduced basal attentional performance.

With the constant ringing, vibrating and entertainment provided by smartphones, it is not surprising in the slightest why these gadgets serve as a distraction. Phone activity can also stimulate the release of dopamine and can potentially lead to addiction, as published by the American Physiological Association.

There is even the word nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) in the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as the anxiety of not having access to your mobile phone or service.

Harmony Health Care IT, a data management firm, surveyed over 1,000 Americans and found that on average, four hours and 37 minutes was spent staring into their phone screen each day. This equates to over one full day of screen time per week, which over a lifetime, can add up to years on your phone.

Not only can this represent time discarded from chasing your dreams in life – specifically if you are mindlessly scrolling through social media – but this also amounts to time lost with loved ones.

As seen on Granset, defined as the busiest social networking site for individuals over their 50s, one forum post reads “losing grandson to smartphone.” In the post, the grandparent expressed their concern with their grandson’s smartphone usage, writing “I feel invisible.” Rarely will you regret not spending more time on your smartphone, but you will surely regret not spending more time with a friend when they are no longer here.

Smartphones are not going anywhere soon, they can always be manufactured, but time spent with others is merely temporary. As morbid as it sounds, your family and friends will not be around forever – but I am sure there will always be someone out there willing to sell you a smartphone.

Next time you reach for your smartphone to scroll aimlessly on social media or to watch mind-numbing videos, give your grandparents or friends a call instead and schedule a visit.

Smartphones are also the gateway to anxiety, stress, depression and various disorders – as published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. With social media now in our pockets and at the tips or our fingers, the youth of today are particularly vulnerable.

“Why don’t I look like that? Why is my life so boring? Why don’t I have that?” are but a few questions one might internalize while scrolling, not recalling that most people only share the highlights of their life – not the low points.

Numerous studies conducted in multiple countries show that social media can amount to body concerns, eating disorders and poor mental health from social comparison.

Of course, the pitfalls of smartphones can vary depending on the applications that are utilized. As published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a one-week break from social media can yield significant improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety.

At the end of the day, I still choose to live life with a smartphone – but I am cognizant of the pitfalls.

I am envious of those who grew up in a world where the smartphone did not yet exist.