In this generation of technological advances, cell phones are the “it” item. Before cell phones there were several different devices like walkmans, CDs, record players, and cassette tapes. Nowadays all these items can come in a compact, thin device. With the new advantages of cell phones have also come new addictions and obsessions.

Cell phones have become a necessity to the new generation. There are some who can go days without their cell phones, but there are also those who cannot go a few hours without it. In Potomac Falls, about three out of five students check their phones about five to ten times during school hours.

Addicted and obsessive cell phone users usually show behaviors that include the need to be in contact with friends and ability to access the latest news. Freshman Jia Yang Choo is one of these people.

“I check my phone a lot, mostly for social media” said, Choo.

Most Students do not have a healthy relationship with their phones. Claire Wang is one of those students.

“I am constantly on it and I feel like I have to have it wherever I go,” said Wang.

Other symptoms include being antisocial with the people around you, checking your phone or going on social media during instruction time in class, and constantly looking for outlets at places like stores and at school to charge your phone.

These symptoms also result in that person being distracted. When cell phones become distractions, it could lead to consequences, such as texting while driving. Many teens and adults are guilty of texting and driving, which is one of the main causes of accidents on the road.

Phones can also affect a person’s academic life. The constant need to check for new updates on Twitter and keep up with friends results in wasted time a person could have used to study or do their homework. It also takes instructional time away from class which negatively affects grades.

“It distracts you from what needs to be focused on and is more important. Some people check their phone a lot, so they just can’t concentrate on their homework.” said, Choo.

Students stay up late, not getting the necessary eight hours of sleep, doing homework because their cell phones and social media tend to be distraction. However, there are many students who believe they can multi-task and budget their time between homework and social media. But how is that possible when their attention is being shared, making it harder to focus on homework?

“When I am doing my homework I try not to use it [my phone] as much as I usually do. That is the only time I try not to use it. It more affects my social life,”said, Wang.

As said before, cell phones can remove a person from human interactions due to applications and social media on their phones. When asked on her opinion of phones affecting social lives,

Wang feels “like it is easier to talk to someone with your phone rather than in person. It is a bad thing because I feel like a person should experience life. Person to person, face to face instead of through a screen,” said, Wang. Additionally, texts can be misinterpreted.

There are some perks to social media and cell phones. It allows to connect to loved ones far away from you and it is nice to keep in touch to old friends, family, etc. Although it can connect you to people, it sets a boundary when you connecting the person face to face.

“But once you are on social media you don’t spend time with the people who are actually in the room. You separate yourself like you are not even there,” said freshman Allyson Lee.

To lower the addiction of cell phone use, try to forget about it. When you don’t have your phone near you or if it is turned off, you are more likely to focus on what is more important than worry about what is going on with your phone.

“I turn it off and I put it somewhere, so I will probably forget it.” said, Lee.

Try to go out more. Be active. Instead of sitting down on your phone, read a book. Go out with your friends and watch a movie.