Double-Edged Digital Sword
If we asked you what you can't leave your house without, you'd probably say your smartphone—and many others would, too. And that's no surprise, given how much this small, portable device can do. But how much do you know about its true abilities? Here are 10 ways your smartphone could potentially save your life—and 10 ways it could harm you.
1. Emergency SOS
If you find yourself in an emergency, your smartphone can still call 911, even with the screen locked. You can also set up a sequence—such as pressing the power button five times—to trigger a loud alarm and alert others that you're in danger.
2. Medical ID
Your smartphone can keep track of your health details, such as your name, age, previous medical history, medications, blood type, and emergency contacts. This information is automatically sent to emergency services when the SOS feature is used, enabling first responders to act quickly.
3. Crash Detection
Some smartphones may have a feature that can detect if you've been involved in a serious accident. A series of sensors is used to determine this: the microphone can pick up sounds of a crash, the GPS can take note of high speeds, and the barometer can measure changes in air pressure. If your phone detects an accident, it will automatically contact emergency services for help.
4. Location Sharing
If you ever find yourself lost or on a first date with a stranger you met off an app, it might be smart to take advantage of your smartphone's location sharing feature. This allows you to—as it says on the tin—share your whereabouts with friends and family so they can make sure you're okay.
5. Flashlight
The flashlight on your smartphone might seem like a simple feature, but it can come in incredibly handy when you find yourself in a blackout, or stranded on the side of the road at night with no backup torch in your glove box. You can even use it to signal help in emergencies.
6. Navigation
Navigating on unfamiliar roads or traveling in a new city? Your phone's GPS and built-in navigation apps can help guide the way so that you don't get lost. These maps can even include routes in remote places, so you don't end up stranded in the middle of nowhere.
7. Emergency Alerts
Your smartphone can also alert you to potential danger and life-threatening situations. Government-issued warnings and emergencies can notify you immediately when there is: severe weather; an earthquake, flood, or another natural disaster; an AMBER alert; and a public safety alert.
8. Translation Apps
It might sound simple, but having a portable device that allows you to translate on the fly is incredibly useful—and your smartphone can do just that. If you ever find yourself lost in translation in a foreign city, simply pull up an app to help you decode unfamiliar symbols.
9. Satellite Messaging
If you're going off the grid or find yourself without Wi-Fi or cellular data, don't worry—satellite messaging can help. All you need is to go outdoors where you have a clear view of the sky so your phone can connect to the nearest satellite. However, keep in mind that this feature may not be available in all countries or areas.
10. Health Monitoring Apps
Not only can your smartphone keep a copy of your medical ID, it can also monitor your health using dedicated apps. These charts and records can track your physical activity, mental health, menstrual cycles, medication history, and other relevant information.
Despite how useful your smartphone can be in emergencies, however, there are still downsides—and some may potentially harm you. Here are 10 ways your beloved device could put you in danger:
1. Distracted Driving
Many drivers are glued to their phones even when they're currently on the go. And it goes without saying that distracted driving can kill: texting or calling when you're behind the wheel puts you and others around you in serious danger, and can lead to fatal accidents.
2. Doomscrolling
When you're connected to the web via your smartphone almost every hour of the day, you're likely to scroll through social media and news sites and become fixated on reading frightening headlines. Doomscrolling can shoot your stress levels up, causing anxiety, depression, and poor mental health.
3. Eye Strain
Having your eyes glued to your smartphone can also lead to eye strain due to the blue light emitting from the screen. Blue light can cause dry eyes and fatigue, so it's important to take frequent breaks away from your device to rest your eyes.
4. Radiation Exposure
Smartphones emit low levels of radiation—the same type of non-iodizing radiofrequency energy that microwaves give off. While studies have shown that this radiation can have harmful effects on mice, it's inconclusive whether it poses a significant danger to humans. However, it's probably best to keep your phone away from you when you're sleeping, and not under your pillow.
5. Disrupt Sleep
Smartphones can disrupt sleep. This isn't only because you might spend long hours scrolling into the dead of night, but also because the blue light from the screen can interrupt your body's natural release of melatonin, which controls your sleep-wake cycle. This makes it harder to fall and stay asleep.
6. Addiction
Admit it—you're probably addicted to your smartphone. It's the first thing you reach for in the morning, and it's the last thing you look at before you sleep. You might think it harmless, but over time, frequent overuse of your smartphone can lead to decreased attention span, focus issues, and poor social skills.
7. Fire Hazard
Most—if not all—smartphones run on lithium-ion batteries, and these power packs can easily catch fire or explode if your device isn't handled or stored properly. Overcharging, damaged cables, or leaving your phone to sit in a hot car can make your device a potential fire hazard, so it's important to stay vigilant. One tip is to avoid charging your phone overnight.
8. Germ Exposure
Your smartphone often goes where you go, and even though you might wash or sanitize your hands frequently, if you're not also giving your device a thorough wipe-down, you'll likely still expose yourself to a plethora of germs and bacteria. Think about it: just how many places and surfaces does your phone touch in a day?
9. Poor Mental Health
Doomscrolling can wreck your mental health, but smartphones can expose you to other things that can increase stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Social media, for one, can make you constantly compare yourself to others or allow strangers to cyberbully behind an anonymous face.
10. Cancer Risk
Building off the previous point about radiation, while studies remain inconclusive whether or not smartphones can increase cancer risk in humans, research has shown that long-term use may cause potential harm. To err on the safer side, avoid keeping your phone too close to you and answer calls with a headset or in speaker mode.
