2014

Breaking Bad Habits

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Yasmin Martinez
Mr. Matt Moberly
Writing 10 8-9:00a.m
May 7, 2014
Breaking Bad Habits
In the past most children under the age of fourteen did not have the luxury of having a
cellular device, due to the fact that it was incredibly expensive and therefore out of their reach
financially. Only those children whose family were well-off were able to afford it. For middle
class Americans cellular devices were reserved solely for business transactions (Ai InSite). Cell
phones began to gain popularity amongst the middle class when technologic advancements made
the phone more visibly appealing (Ai InSite). By the 1983s, cell phones were seen all over pop
culture, more specifically on television shows. As cell phones became more publicized and more
and more celebrities were shown using this device, some wondered to themselves, If famous
people have it, then I should have one too (Ai InSite). Nowadays it is hard to find anyone
without a cell phone. Today, the majority of children have access to cell phones. Studies have
shown that children that carry a cellular device at such a young age, have trouble with their
performances in school (Rice). In fact, students in middle school who are under the age of 14, are
constantly using their cellphones to text and go on social media during class and breaks. Giving a
child a cellular device will negatively affect them academically, socially, and health wise, and as
a result halt their development. This impact will affect them for the rest of their life and should
not be taken lightly. It is because of this, that I propose there be limitations to when a child under
the age of 14 is able to use their cellphones. If these limitations are not practiced, and children
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continue to use their cell phones as frequently it will have consequences on their academics,
social skills, and formulates an unhealthy addiction problem.
Background
Author John Paul Dickie questioned if children really needed smartphones, and goes as
far as to say 'should smartphones be banned for children under the age of 14 (Dickie). Cellular
devices can not necessarily be banned from children, however, the possibility of placing
limitations should be considered. Throughout the years it has brought a lot of consequences
toward children in middle school. Having a cellular device at such a young age has hurt the
children academically. Students who use their cellphones in class cannot focus. So they begin to
get low grades in their classes which can then lead to them failing the course. A licensed
physiologist said, One of the reason why student fail in school is because they use their cellular
device in school constantly. This could be checking their text messages, or getting on social
media apps. Which then can create poor grades in their classes (Archer). Children using their
cell phones constantly affects their grades because they are on their cell phones and dont pay
attention in class or fail to take notes while being in class. If they are not studying well then
theyre not going to do well in their quizzes, exams, and text. If there not taking good notes then
there not going to have the adequate notes to study from. If all they have time for is to look at
their phones in class then their least worry is paying attention to the lectures. This affects them
because they wont necessary know what was cover in class that day, and so they wont be able
to ask for help if they have questions. Their time spent on their phone was more important than
getting help from their teachers.
Another consequence that a cellular device can bring toward a child is the lack of social
skills. In our society social skills has an important role in our everyday lives, especially since its
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used, and required for many jobs and interviews. In fact, The youth of today are constantly
immersed in technological advancements that promote nonstop communication and instant
gratification (How technology). When a child is more concentrated in a text then having a
conversation with their peers, their lack of communication decrease and therefore they lose the
skill to communicate with others. When it comes to communication one needs to know how to
be comfortable speaking to others. Being able to communicate with others efficiently is
important in a group presentation. If they dont know how to communicate and speak for
themselves, then group presentation wont work out for them. The reason why, is that the
majority of the group presentation involves working together with the group so that the
presentation is easy to understand. It is also important to be able to give ideas on how to make
the presentation better. If they are always on their cell phone it can affect their life in many ways.
This separates them from reality as well as detaches them from what is happening around them.
This is why social skills is important for everyone to acquire at a young age when their brain is
barely development. Moreover, children who are constantly checking for text messages,
Facebook notifications, and their emails messages (Archer). This blocks them from actually
interacting with people, and not living a normal child hood life.
Lastly, the use of cellular devices can have a negative effect on someones health. They
develop an unhealthy life style because they are addicted to using their cell phones all the time.
For example, The I-must-have-my-phone-with-me-at-all-times mindset has become such a
real problem, there's now a name coined for the fear of being without your phone: nomophobia
(as in no- mo(bile) phone-phobia ) (Archer). The health issues that it can create are bad sleeping
patterns, eating habits, and unhealthy addiction habits. When it comes to sleeping children need a
minimum of 8 hours of sleep each day (Rice). There has been studies that show that a
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Realization prompted a study of more than 200 students at the university to further examine
what role cellphones play in their sleep habits. Students, the researchers found, were losing an
average of 45 minutes of sleep each week because of their cellphones (Rice). Even though this
has to do with college students, it makes us realize that if this situation isnt fix right now, then
by the time there in college, it will be already too late for them to get help. Also imagine the
affects not sleeping will have on an undeveloped brain. Especially since middle school is where
they start developing a lot of habits and it can cause them to become addicted to drinking
caffeine. Staying up late isnt good for their health. Bad eating habits can also formed, because if
they are on their cell phones, sometimes they are not eating big meals like breakfast, lunch, and
dinner. Then all they would actually do is eat snacks which then brings health concerns.
Constantly using their cell phones will not only hurt them academically but also socially and
physically. And we really dont want it to get to this extreme.
Solutions
While cellular devices negatively affect children under the age of 14 in school, it is nearly
impossible to ban children from having a cell phone since it has become so commonly used. So
with that said, a good solution to stop the use of cellular device in middle school is to limit the
usage of it during class hours, and break hours. So by not constantly using their cell phone in
class and breaks, students in middle school will be able to perform well in their academics, social
skills, and have a healthy life style. Teacher can also collect students cell phone before walking
into class. That way when teacher give lectures in class, they wound not have to worry about
looking up, or checking constantly to see if their student are using their cell phones. This will
then get the students devotion to focus more on what is being cover in lecture, then what is going
on their cell phones. This will also help increase their grades from quizzes, text and exams.
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Furthermore, another good way to limit the use of cellular device, is by having the student put
away their cell phones before walking out to break and lunch. Whether it is putting it away in
their pack backs, or simply putting it away into their lockers (that is if they have one). This is
beneficial because they will be able to learn how to communicate with others and not specifically
through text messages. For instance, if a student is caught with their cellular device during
breaks, then there should be a punishment for it, like having detention, calling their parents, or
taking away extracurricular activities from them. This will make students realize what is more
important to them, their cellular device or their privileges they have in school.
Another solution, is to allow only flip phones on campus, and not smartphones. So if
there was a situation where a student had an emergency, having a flip phone will be venerable
for calling in case of an emergency. This way staffs would not have to worry about students
texting, and getting into social media apps during class. In fact with the help of this, technology
would not have such a negatively influenced on any social interactions of today's youth. Because
the flip phones will be able to decrease anything that has had an impact on them already. For
example, the way it separates them from reality, hinders communication, and perpetuates the
concept of immediate -satisfaction will all go away (How technology). Now lets say that if some
flip phones were to have internet on them, then a good way to stop this, is to block the internet
connection during class hours and break hours. This way students would not have that temptation
on getting into their phones while there learning, and interacting with other students. The only
time they would be able to access the internet in class is if they had a project or research to do,
which involves the use of internet.
Counter Argument & Rebuttal
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Despite my reasonings, Some argue that the Internet has a positive effect on social
interactions because it allows us to form friendships online. However, the capacity to meet a
virtually unlimited number of people through chat rooms, bulletin boards, and other services, is
actually extremely negative (How technology). Yes, it might be helpful but think about how
much of their social skills they will be missing, if all they depended on was the usage of their cell
phones to communicate. Im not saying to get rid of the internet in school, but to only have it
available when their working on a class project that required the use of internet.
Moreover, Parents will say that by using a smartphone, they can track their child to
make sure they are safe while they are out playing with friends or going to school (Dickie). Yes
a tracking device is helpful, however, if there in their friends house in the first place, then they
should not have a problem with not having, or carrying a cellular device. Because theres already
an adult there to help them if an emergency was to occur. Also theres no way an adult would let
their child, who is under the age of 14 be alone by themselves, just because there young and if
something were to happen, an adult will be there to assist them. Some of the parents are still
going to object from this because they feel thats property and no one has the right to take their
phones away from them. However, theres no need for a child to have cellular device in in the
first place, so by going to school, parents no longer control of what goes on. Only the school has
the power to enforce any rule that will keep their students safe on campus. And if there were to
be an emergency, there would be chaperon on the playground that would have access to a cell
phone, if there were to be an emergency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, More and more people are using smartphones such as iPhones,
BlackBerrys and Android devices but unlike a few years ago when smartphones were only being
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used by the business elite they are now being used by all ages (Dickie). There needs to be a
limitations on when children 14 years or younger are able to use their cell phones, to protect
them from the possible issues that having a cell phone will bring. Being restricted on the amount
of time they spend on their cell phone can dramatically change their lives. By helping those that
already have healthy problems, and those that need help socializing with other, and lastly having
a positively effect on their performance. At the end its both beneficial for the kid and their
parents in the long run. For the parent, they will no longer have to waste money on purchasing a
cellular device, and for the child they will no longer have to suffer in the future.


















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Works Cited
"Ai InSite." The History and Evolution of Cell Phones. Freeland Talent for Ai InSite, 24 Oct.
2011. Web. 04 May 2014. <http://insite.artinstitutes.edu/the-history-and-evolution-of-
cell-phones-57809.aspx>.
Archer, Dale, Dr. "Smartphone Addiction." Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a
Therapist. N.p., 07 July 2013. Web. 04 May 2014.
<http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-
headlines/201307/smartphone-addiction>.
Dickie, John-Paul. "Why Teenagers and Children Should Be Banned from Using Smartphones
like the BlackBerry or IPhone." PostDesk. N.p., 29 Dec. 2011. Web. 05 May 2014.
<http://www.postdesk.com/teenagers-and-children-smartphones-blackberry-iphone>.
"How Technology Affects Us." Teen Ink. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2014.
<http://www.teenink.com/opinion/social_issues_civics/article/166619/How-Technology-
Affects-Us/>.
RICE, ALEXANDRA. "Bleary-Eyed Students Can't Stop Texting, Even To Sleep, A Researcher
Finds." Chronicle Of Higher Education 58.14 (2011): A13. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 5 May 2014.
"Wired On Technology." Times Educational Supplement 4996 (2012): 8-9. Education Source.
Web. 5 May 2014.