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entertained. All these functions have substantially improved
and simplified life. However, the very fact that these
activities can be carried out anywhere, has made this
technology more intrusive than any other.” 5
Because smartphones are handheld computers, they
are easy to carry. People can hold them in their hands, put
them in a pocket, or slip them into a bag. This accessibility
makes it easy for smartphones to interfere with people’s
daily activities, including their interactions with other people.
Whether at school, home, or work, a person’s smartphone
is often within reach.
SMARTPHONE DEPENDENCY
Many researchers are studying the influence smartphones
have on people’s lives. According to Rotondi, studies
show that “the smartphone has dramatically changed our
daily life and, in particular, how we interact with others.
These changes have made life easier in many respects.
Yet, they did not come without costs.” Rotondi and
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other researchers have found that there can be negative
consequences to smartphone use. Many smartphone
users have some awareness of these consequences. They
understand the disruption that comes with having constant
access to a smartphone. In 2018, the Pew Research
Center surveyed US teens on their cell phone use.
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