Average users pick up the smart phone fifty eight times (58) a day. US adults spend four hours (4) and forty five minutes approximately each day on their smart phones. That sums up to approximately eighty seven (87) days in a year checking your phone.
Our attachment to our smartphone is detaching us from humans. It is absolutely incredible to see all around the world, the young and the old alike seems to be addicted to their smartphones and life without it seems impossible. Our technology has evolved over the past few years and the craziness and addition to smart phones are so alarming these days. We cannot imagine life without a smartphone anymore. Of course there are so many positives than negatives by this super technology advancement and the inventions of smart phones, GPS etc.
Today the phone is not just limited to call and communicate with others, but we also can text, check our emails, video calling, video conferences, photo sharing all instantly. We can call a meeting from anywhere in the world, social networking, interacting with people anywhere in the universe. It really modernized communications and it is very useful and much needed development in the fast phased life style.
Life gets easier, smoother, more organized by the invention of this small device which we can carry in our pocket. Now the world is closer than ever, the news around the world are at the tip of our finger. We can watch news and events instantly, listen to music, play games, so many things to download and entertain us. Images from incidents, celebrations, accidents, prayer meetings, Church sermons, conferences all instantly available from anywhere in the world. Thanks to the brain behind this modern device that is spreading like wild fire all over the world. Most everyone has a smart phone today, young or old, rich or poor, smart or not smart. This is one device that we all carry day and night everywhere.
It is a learning tool, tracking device, and give quick access to emergency situations, lot of relaxing fun games and entertainments, we can perform banking, manage things better, communicate with family, friends, officials, businesses, bosses. It is an amazing tool we all carry twenty four seven and are kind of addicted to it. 

Let us look at the negatives and the dangers by getting addicted to the smartphone. A complete disconnect with family members and dear ones may be one of the most important drawbacks. At dinner tables, in the living room, in prayer meetings, churches, schools, at restaurants, while travelling together, people stop talking each other or seeing each other. Most everyone is on their phone and the children, parents, brother or sister, loved ones are not important any more but the smart phone is closer than even dear family members.
When we check our phones, our brain releases a small amount of dopamine. Dopamine commonly referred to as the “feel good” hormones and is the brain’s major reward and pleasure neurotransmitter. Smart phones are so addictive because every time we use them, it triggers a surge of dopamine per some research scientists. We now have a new medical condition known as problematic Smartphone use. This is a psychological disorder that is associated with overdependence on cellphones. Excessive use can lead to neglecting real life relationship, responsibilities and social skills.
The PEW Research Center tells us that a staggering ninety-seven (97%) of Americans are mobile phone owners and four hours (4) thirty minutes (30) are spent on smart phones and check phones one hundred and forty four (144) times per day. We must be mindful of the drawbacks such as addiction, distraction, health risk, cyberbullying, impact on education, impact on personal relationship and the very valuable time we are missing with our children, spouses and dear ones. Use the Smartphone wisely and consciously and we must talk, sit together, relax, and develop our family strength and relationship.
According to a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, about thirty five (35) to forty five (45) percent of teens say they are on You Tube, TickTok, Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook and they all say it is hard to give up social media.
Many Christians leave their Holy Bible at home and instead attend worship services with a pocket size smart phone. The Bible never mentions any rules or guidelines regarding a smart phone. But Psalms (90:12) says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”. This means that we should not waste the days God has given us in this life. We never know which one will be our last
Your phone should not be your Bible. Praise God for the Smart phone invention and its priceless merits and the fact that we can access a Bible app and use it to engage in God’s word, but it is better to have the real Bible. It will be less distraction, we can engage more deeply with the word, study the context more clearly and learn the word much more deeply.
Can we put away the phone sometimes, and start talking to our parents, children, relatives, friends and neighbors face to face. Give that phone a break while cooking, eating, talking with family, worshipping, walking, exercising, travelling together, in bathrooms, in elevators, in grocery stores, in churches and be free from the addiction of this device.
Thank God for smartphones but like any other addictive habits, we all must avoid all risks, dangers, disconnect, abnormal habits and even sins due to our love with smart phones, May God bless you and help you to use them wisely. Like any other dangerous addictions, beware of smartphone addiction and subsequent dangers.

Joseph Kurian, Houston