The Most Dangerous Tech Habits You Need to Stop Now
How many times you wanted to check your phone for 10 minutes but it magically became 30 minutes or even more?
Once you hold your favorite electronic device and start scrolling, tapping, and swiping… it becomes impossibly hard to step away. It’s shocking when you realize that this behavior has become the norm nowadays.
According to a study from the University of Maryland, most participating students were distressed when they spent one day without their devices. Plus, 1 in 3 students admitted they’d choose their smartphones over engaging in an intimate relationship!
No matter how much you love your electronic device, you must never use it to the point it becomes dangerous for your health. Here are 10 tech habits that are hurting you and, in some cases, can cause serious health problems.
SLEEPING WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE
Stop putting your phone beneath the pillow! Cell phone users are recommended to minimize their exposure to the radio frequency energy produced by phones. In fact, long-term, excessive use of smartphones might be associated with some types of cancer as well as other serious health problems.
Even though extended research is needed, it’s best to keep your phone away by using Bluetooth headsets and carrying your phone in a purse/backpack. In case you need to keep your cellphone beside you for some reason, make sure to turn airplane mode on.
2 USING A DIRTY CELLPHONE
Your smartphone gets filthy faster than you may think. Basically, you don’t stop touching it and placing it on different dirty surfaces throughout the day, which leads all types of particles to deposit on the device, filling it with germs you certainly don’t want to touch.
So you shouldn’t be surprised if you started noticing patterns of acne or blackheads on your cheeks due to answering calls. Every time you press the phone to answer a call, you also press dirt and oils against your face, increasing the risk of getting acne.
To avoid damaging your skin, use earphones or put calls on speaker and make sure to wipe down your phone every day.
3 SOCIAL MEDIA OVERLOAD
The small cell phone is an immense gate leading into the wide, free virtual social world. That’s why most teens today spend hours on social media talking to friends, sharing photos, expressing themselves, and seeking romance. But the wide web isn’t all smiles and rainbows.
There’s online aggression, hate speech, cyberbullying, and increasing worries about excessive social media use being associated with depression.
Social media can offer a fun break from daily routine but overuse is a sign that the person has other basic needs that aren’t being met. Parents should set a good example and try to talk and listen to their kids instead of lecturing them.
4 TURBO TEXTING
People who spend too much time holding their electronic devices are sharing a variety of health complaints, mainly pain in hand, elbow, claw, and neck. And the pain is very real. Physical therapists explain that such issues are a result of continuous strain injuries, which are caused by remaining in one position for a long period of time.
Your best bet is to reduce time spent on smartphones or other devices, and if that’s not possible, try hand stretches and exercises to help relieve the pain. Also, make sure to change positions as often as possible. Never stay in one position for too long.
