trendingNowenglish1362550

Pay a price to stay connected

Constantly sending text messages resulted in an American teenager losing sensation in her hands. Speak Up probes if there is sufficient awareness about the ill effects of texting

Pay a price to stay connected

Touch screen mobile can mitigate pain
Our body parts sustain damage in two ways. Firstly by sudden injury caused due to an accident. Secondly by repetitive movement or excessive use of a part, such injuries happen due to ignorance. In case of texting on mobiles mostly we use the thumbs. When we use our thumb excessively everyday it can create problems. The carpal tunnel syndrome is caused wherein nerves in the wrist become trapped. There is a disease called De Quervain’s disease, which causes a painful inflammation of the tendon attached to the thumb. The most important thing is prevention. We should always use our fingers and thumbs in moderation. Alter the habit if you are addicted to texting. If you have to for work-related reasons, then one can get a touch screen mobile, which may reduce the pain.
Kaushal Malhan, orthopaedic & joint replacement surgeon, Fortis Hospital  

Not much awareness about the addiction
Constant addiction to cell phones and sending text messages are a huge problem among youngsters, on many occasions parents feel helpless. This causes severe pain on the wrists. Even the attention span and concentration gets reduced. Dependency on a love interest, marital discord, frustration and craving to connect with people are some of the reasons why people want to send text messages continuously. We give them proper therapy and identify the reason for the dysfunctional and distorted behaviour. Also, one more reason for the addiction is clingy behaviour. I’m dealing with cases where youngsters get too attached to their cell phone. Sadly there isn’t sufficient awareness about cell phone addiction, it is rampant but not many know that they are actually addicted to the sophisticated gadgets and gizmos. 
Seema Hingorrany, clinical psychologist & child therapist

Many hooked to games, chatting and blogging
I know many people who are addicted to cell phones. Many are hooked on to applications like games, chatting and micro-blogging. It’s irritating when people don’t have the basic etiquette and continue sending messages in the presence of people. I like keeping in touch via messaging with friends and send some humourous messages often, but I know when to draw the line. I have read about the harmful effects of cell phones. Hence I try not to be totally addicted to it, but I don’t think there is much awareness.
Karishma Menon, student

Guardians don’t take such matters seriously
I don’t think there is anything wrong in being addicted to messaging on mobile phones. Many times people use the medium to discuss matters that they are not comfortable talking over the phone. So it’s not always about sending mindless forwards. Also parents don’t approve of long conversations and hence texting is a better option. However, one should know the limits as people do feel numb sometimes after messaging for a long time. Parents have a problem, if their child is addicted to the phone, but they don’t take it seriously.
Janvi Sawant, student

Parents must educate youngsters about usage
Many teenagers are getting addicted to texting. One can see people texting or talking on their phones round the clock. We need to educate them as it could cause, not only numbness in the fingers, but also cause anxiety, distraction and sleep deprivation. With little awareness about this condition, parents should educate youngsters through monitoring usage and providing information about it. We shouldn’t deprive youngsters access to a mobile, but educate them about how to use it, since technology is not always a curse.
Kamini Benegal, management student

Encourage personal interaction 
I wasn't aware that texting can be so dangerous. Now that I got to know that people can lose feeling in their hands and eventually can have decreased strength, I feel awareness is the best solution for avoiding such habits. Restricting a child from using mobile phones is not a practical idea, however we should make youngsters aware about ill effects of constantly typing text messages. We should also encourage them to meet friends and acquaintances in person rather than maintaining long distance contact.
Manoj Wagh, media executive      

My sister’s phone buzzes even at night 
Today it's difficult to monitor or restrict mobile usage among teenagers. My sister is constantly on the phone, even while eating or shopping, she is sending text messages. Even at night, I can hear her phone buzzing. This really irritates me. In fact she has become an expert at it and can type even without looking at the screen. But I’m helpless about it. I can't scold or reprimand her, since she is independent and may resent the advice. Creating awareness about ill effects is the only medium to reduce this.
Sippi Virmani, marketing executive

Multiple use is the root cause of the problem
I constantly stay in touch with my wife through text messages. Another reason why our use has gone up is because today it has become our personal data assistant. All modes of communication are converging into the mobile phone. While it all seems convenient that we can access our schedule or email account at the click of a button. This habit has come to haunt us. I wasn’t aware that a few punches on the keypad could be so dangerous. I don’t think many are aware of the magnitude of the problem.
Murli Mohan, marketing manager

    LIVE COVERAGE

    TRENDING NEWS TOPICS
    More