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It’s no secret that people become very attached to their smartphones. After all, they connect you to your work,

your social life, the news, and everything else. As a result, people try to squeeze in as much time as possible with

their smartphones. For many people, this means taking their devices to bed with them. They sit there in the dark,

bathed in their screens’ blue light, until it’s time to shut their eyes and try to sleep. “Try” is the important word here.

Staying up late to squeeze in those last few minutes in front of that blue light is significantly affecting people’s

sleep. The wavelengths of that blue light mimics the natural morning light. That morning light is what signals the

body that it’s time to wake up. This completely throws off the body’s sleep cycle, and it leads to a decrease in

melatonin. This is an important hormone that causes sleepiness at the end of the day. Simply put, studies of late-

night screen time show that it makes it harder for users to fall asleep. It also likely means that sleep is of a much

lower quality overall.

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The word “smartphone” was coined to describe handheld devices that could do so much more than just make

phone calls or send text messages. Old-fashioned cellular phones could only be used for calling, but even that

was considered advanced technology for its time. The ability to text was then invented, but the sender had to

push the buttons on the keypad repeatedly to spell out the message. Eventually, users could snap very blurry

photos with their old phones, but sending the photos required so much data that it was very costly. Now,

smartphones have touch-screen interactive keyboards, the ability to take and send pictures instantly, and even

the capability of surfing the Internet, sending emails, reading eBooks, and listening to music. Smartphones also

have apps, which older cellular phones didn’t have, and these apps give devices even more functions and

capabilities. One of the biggest differences in older phones and smartphones, of course, is the size, with some

smartphones being almost twice as big as older phones.

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Some experts have begun questioning whether or not kids today get too much screen time, largely as a result of

owning smartphones. They worry that children and teenagers are spending too much time interacting with

inappropriate content, encountering predators or cyberbullies, or simply shutting others out and not forming

genuine face-to-face friendships. One way that parents have begun to correct this problem is by having screen-

free time. This is important for the health and well-being of all consumers, not just kids. A screen-free time might be a

daily or weekly family meal in which no devices come to the table, a game night in which the family “unplugs” and

enjoys a board game, or just some time set aside to really talk and listen to each other. Hopefully, this time away

from smartphones and screens can help people feel more confident and connected, as well as give families

some time together.

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Smartphones just might be one of the most innovative inventions in recent history. These devices have done more

to change life—for both the better and the worse—than perhaps any other new technology. These small and

highly portable handheld devices are tiny computers that let users do everything from taking photos and sending

messages to checking their emails, posting to social media, and even using the Internet. Most smartphones these

days are between six and eight inches long, which seems to be the right size for reading on a screen. A lot of

owners put decorative or protective cases on their smartphones, so they may look very colorful. Apps that users

download are the best parts of smartphones. Every single owner can put exactly the apps that he or she wants,

so every smartphone on Earth is basically custom-made for its owner. These apps make the smartphone do the

tasks the owner needs, while also providing fun and entertainment.

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Using a smartphone is so easy that almost anyone can do it. Most phones have only a few buttons now. One of

the buttons actually powers on the device, while the other one can be used for “waking” the phone, returning to

the home screen, and even taking pictures. Once you’ve turned on your smartphone, you’ll probably need to

enter a passcode. This keeps outsiders from accessing your stored information and apps. After you’ve unlocked

your phone, slide your finger across the face to get to different screens. This lets you choose which app you want

to use. If you need to download an app, you’ll need to look for your app store’s icon and tap it or select it from

the phone’s menu. Simply type the name of the app or the kind of app you’d like to see, and then download the

app to your phone. Many apps are free, but some require you to enter a payment method.

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