Did you know about the “Heads Down Generation”?
They are none other than those people who keep their heads down for hours while
using their smartphone – a multifunctionality device. You can easily find them
around you in good numbers. From time to time the renowned public figures
including our Prime Minister keep on advising the youths to reduce screen time
and review the time being spent by them on smartphones and try to save at least
ten percent of that time in order to spend it with their parents and grandparents.
Brief summary of different media reports and surveys say that Indians spend more than 5 hours daily on an average on smartphone, more than 1800 hours or two and half months in a year – the world’s highest daily usage rate; nearly 86% of Indian households own a smartphone and have internet access; within first fifteen minutes of waking up nearly 84% of smartphone users in our country check their phone; about 70% of smart phone time is spent for social media scrolling, gaming and reel/video watching. Isn’t it quite significant and equally surprising? The surveys conducted in a few big cities also reveal that the youths/students are found to be glued to their smartphones for far longer hours. Anyone can easily make out the growing dependence on smart phones by observing people, particularly the youths at the railway stations, bus stands, airports and even in parks and restaurants. The increasing percentage of students and youths in the total number of smartphone buyers in the country will give you the clear picture.
Anyway, if we consider 1800 hours’ time
annually to take the discussion forward, it is very clear that our students
fail to utilise on an average of about five hours daily on their studies.
Needless to emphasise that even normal use of smartphones is proving to be
disadvantageous during examination season. Actually, students feel extra
pressure of doing well in the coming examination and hence want to study for
extra hours, but sadly the bad habit of phone addiction does not let them focus
on studies. Consequently, they lose their mental balance, peace of mind and
power of concentration. Naturally, the stress level goes up and they can’t study
well. On top of this, the phone calls from friends and classmates keep
disturbing them as usual. Undeniably, this loss of study time is bound to
affect and reflect in their performance and final results everywhere.
Interacting with students of higher classes in recent weeks during my sessions of stress management and motivation, when I enumerated a number of benefits of non-use of smartphones during examination period of a month or so, almost all the students agreed to what I said. I also told them that keeping in view their affinity and strong liking for smartphone, it would not be very easy to be away from it, but it is not impossible either, if you have the strong willpower.
It is not out of context to briefly discuss the
ill effects of using a smartphone for longer hours on the physical, mental and
cognitive health of all the users. Several health-related reports and surveys
say that due to excessive use of smart phones the users suffer from fatigue,
indigestion, headache, memory loss, insomnia, hearing and eye problems, to name
a few. And after some time, the risk of brain tumour, heart disease, depression
and problems related to ear, eyes, neck and stomach increases significantly.
Using a smartphone while walking or driving reduces situational awareness that
enhances the risk of traffic accidents.
Everybody, more particularly the youths should think seriously whether smartphone is the most important thing in their life or it is yet another device to facilitate better living; when there was no such phone in their country or in their life, what was life all about. If during examination time and at any point of time for that matter, they can use the phone for the necessary communication and for getting some useful study-related information, they would definitely be the beneficiary of many life shaping things – less spending on phone recharge; saving of precious time; improvement in overall health; chance to keep away from negative stuff in the name of entertainment; more quality time for family, particularly for elders and children; greater opportunity to learn and discuss positive things; and many more.
Besides these benefits, you can sleep well at night; can feel the taste of the food you eat; can also focus on sports and other extra-curricular activities besides your studies. The cumulative effect of all these benefits will reflect in your enhanced happiness, better health and finally your performance and productivity. To say, everybody should use the technology mindfully for their own benefit and should never be addicted to it. And it’s not good to treat the smartphone as your life or the most important thing in life, rather treat it as another item to make your life more comfortable or easier. Just try to live without a smartphone off and on. Believe me, you will feel better.
As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)
# Published in my Sunday Column of "Morning India" daily.
# Click here to enjoy my Blog in Hindi, "Chalte, Chalte" (चलते, चलते)
