Cell Phone Hypnosis

When I get a text from a friend my face just lights up; as soon as I hear my phone alert me by beeps or vibrating, I feel as though I have to answer that text as soon as possible. The anticipation to see what my friend has sent reminds me of the day before Christmas. You can try to do other activities to get through the day, but in the back of your mind all you can think about are your gifts. It’s the same with text messages for me, sometimes I can’t always reply as soon as I’d like, but all I can think about is what is in that message.

Cell phones have an effect on all of us. People tend to blur out anything and everything around them when texting, chatting on the phone, checking voicemail, etc. Cell phones have a way of making people zone out without even realizing there are others in the area (Gozzi, 2008). There have been a few times when people were literally yelling at me trying to get my attention but I didn’t hear a thing because I was so into the conversation I was having on my phone. I’ve seen others go through the same scenario as well.

This “zoning out” has been dubbed the “Cell Phone Zone” (Gozzi, 2008). It’s when people focus solely on their cell phone and are completely oblivious to their surroundings. Some are so pulled away from reality that they don’t realize others can hear their conversations (Gozzi, 2008). I see this all the time when I’m out walking. I find it comical that some can be so loud that everyone hears them, yet if you bring it up they get extremely agitated and rude.

People of all ages, male or female, are susceptible to get caught up in the cell phone zone. In June 2008, almost 40% of drivers between the ages of 16 – 30 text while driving (Gozzi, 2008). This statistic tells me that not only do a wide range of people have phones, but they’re also on the road distracted and driving. I think that the advancement of cell phones has a lot to do with cause of these distractions.

Cell phones are getting more and more advanced allowing one to watch tv, movies, and play games; not to mention the thousands of apps you can add as well. Phones are so advanced nowadays that they’re called smart phones. I am a bit hesitant to buy one of my own because I feel I would be so caught up and distracted by the number of different apps and features that it would be a struggle to get some things done.

Since we all know how focused people can be while using cell phones, I think that if people would put their phones on silent while they’re driving, they would be less distracted and wouldn’t feel obligated to answer a text or phone call. Most states do have laws against cell phone usage while driving but like drinking and driving, not everyone abides by the law.

Gozzi, R. (2008, October). Metaphors in action: The cell phone zone.  A Review of General Semantics. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from the EBSCOHost database.