Phone Reading Comp Check

Read the information below about cell phone addiction and then answer the questions:

Smartphone addiction could be changing your brain

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN|Nov. 30th, 2017

You may be one of the growing number of Americans who has nomophobia.

"Nomophobia?" you might ask. "Of course not."

"NO MObile PHOne phoBIA" is a 21st-century term for the fear of not being able to use your cell phone or other smart device. Cell phone addiction is increasing, surveys show, and a new study shows smartphone and internet addiction is harming our minds.

What's wrong with being a cell phone addict?

Obviously, there are some serious problems with being addicted to your cell phone. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cell phone use is partially to blame for the distracted driving that kills an estimated nine people each day and injures more than 1,000. Texting while driving is getting worse. Almost half of US adults admit to reading or sending a text message while driving. The news is worse for teens: Almost one in three 16- or 17-year-olds said they have texted while driving.

It's not just driving. A study in New York found that 42% of people who walked across the street during a "Don't Walk" signal were talking on a cell phone, wearing headphones or looking down at an electronic device.

Other health problems related to cell phone use include text neck -- that pain that comes after looking down at your phone too long -- and poor posture, which can affect your spine, respiratory functions and even emotions. Researchers have also found that the blue light from our cell phones and other internet devices can disrupt our sleep.

In addition, people who are addicted to their smartphones avoid face-to-face interactions and have high levels of social anxiety and maybe even depression. Being addicted to your smartphone can also affect your ability to work or study because you want to be connected to your smartphone all the time. This means that if you are too dependent on your smartphone, you are unable to concentrate and focus. How can you learn if you are always distracted?

Fighting back against smartphone addiction

If you, or a loved one, seem to have the symptoms of smart device or internet addiction, experts have some suggestions. First, turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such when studying, having dinner, playing with your kids, and of course, driving. Remove social media apps, like Facebook and Twitter from your phone, and only check-in from your laptop. Try to limit yourself to 15 minutes at set times of the day when it won't affect work, school, or family life. Don't bring your cell phone and it's harmful blue light to bed; use an old fashioned alarm to wake you. And last, try to replace your smart device time with healthier activities such as meditating or actually interacting with real people.