How Cell Phones Affect Interpersonal Communication

Making It Personal Imagining a society where people talk to each other and cell phones are not an appendage to the human body, sends tremors of fear to the average American. Everywhere scenes of self-absorbed, selfie-taking, texting forms hover intently around tables, seemingly oblivious of their surroundings. When did the joy of another’s company become lost in a sea of smartphones? How did we sink into such a deep crevasse of self-importance? The notion of untethered joy coming in the newest technological gadget fills the hearts of many, replacing the comfort of conversation around the family dinner table. Americans appear to have lost sight of the positive impact interpersonal communication has on the family unit and the importance of teaching these skills to our children to give them a chance of a healthy, successful future. Lack of one-on-one interaction can dissolve a person’s ability to develop important communication skills necessary to form lasting, strong relationships. The increase in …show more content…
American children are using cell phones at a younger age and at an alarmingly increased rate. Where have the days of playing outside or family time around the Monopoly Board gone? Families who consciously set time aside without their cell phones will teach their children that it does not take electronic devices to have fun. Children come to depend on the instant stimulation that playing games on their cell phones or Internet surfing provides. It is noteworthy that children’s attention span is short enough and they become bored easily. Allowing them to spend hours upon hours on their cell phones promotes instant gratification and diminishes personal interaction development. As a parent, that two hours it takes to play that board game, read a story, or throw a football is well worth the time. It sets a good example of how to have fun without electronic