RRL

http://news.abs-cbn.
com/focus/02/26/14/boy-wants-soft-drinks-banned-schools
This boy wants soft drinks banned in schools
by RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 26 2014 07:41 PM | Updated as of Feb 27 2014 03:41 AM
MANILA - Bespectacled 10-year-old Chip Gatmaytan accompanied Representatives Arl
ene Bag-ao and Leonora Robredo in filing his advocacy, House Bill 4021 or the pr
oposed Healthy Beverage Options Act.
The measure, which the 2 congresswomen filed for him at the lower House, seeks t
o ban the following from being sold in schools:
Soft drinks
sports drinks
punches
iced teas
fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juice or that co
ntain additional sweeteners; and,
drinks containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
The bill cited academic studies showing that there is nothing healthy about carb
onated soft drinks or soda.
It encourages that instead, the following should be sold in schools:
1. Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and that do n
ot contain sweeteners
2. Water and seltzer
3. Low-fat or fat-free milk, including, but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy
milk, rice milk, and other similar dairy or non-dairy calcium-fortified milk.
Violations of the proposed act will result in a P100,000 fine.
__________________________________________________
http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/04/14/why-leni-robredo-wants-soft-drinks-banned
-schools
Why Leni Robredo wants soft drinks banned in schools
by Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at Mar 05 2014 12:59 AM | Updated as of Mar 05 2014 08:59 AM
MANILA Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, co-author of a bill that seeks to ban so
ft drinks in school, believes that it is the obligation of the state to ensure t
he well-being and health of children.
In an interview on "Aquino & Abunda Tonight," Robredo said by banning soft drink
s in school canteens, children will be safe from the hazards of unhealthy drinks
.
"Marami nang pag-aaral na nagsasabing nakakasama sa health ng mga bata 'yung sob
rang sugar intake," she said.
"Kaya siya ipinagbabawal sa grade school at high school, tintingnan natin 'yung
obligasyon ng state na protektahan ang well-being at health ng mga bata. Sinasab
i natin dito na huwag namang gawing very accessible 'yung mga drinks na nakakasa
ma sa health ng mga bata until such time na naiintindihan na nila 'yung masasama
ng effects nito," said the lawmaker, widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse
Robredo.
Aside from soft drinks, House Bill 4021 also seeks to ban sports drinks, punches
, iced teas fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juic
e or that contain additional sweeteners, and drinks containing caffeine, excludi
ng low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
The measure also seeks to ensure free and clean drinking water for elementary an
d high school students.
"For the greater good ito. 'Yung mga businessman na gumagawa nito puwedeng magin
g creative. Puwedeng papunta na siya sa mga healthty na produkto 'yung gagawi ni
ya," Robredo said.
__________________________________________________
http://www.philstar.com/congress/articles/2014/03/31/1307230/2-solons-want-softd
rinks-ban-schools
2 solons want softdrinks ban in schools
By Dennis Carcamo Updated Monday March 31, 2014 - 2:24pm
MANILA, Philippines - Two legislators have filed a bill, seeking to ban the sale
of softdrinks and carbonated beverages in schools in the country.
Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao and Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Gerona-Robr
edo filed House Bill 4021 or the "Health Beverage Options Act of 2014" seeks to
regulate the availability of beverages to children in schools.
"Academic studies have shown that there is nothing healthy about carbonated soft
drinks or soda. In fact, there is continuous stream of scientific studies that
show the health risks of soda intake," the authors said.
Under the measure, the following beverages shall not be provided or sold at scho
ols:
-soft drinks, sports drinks, punches, and iced teas;
-fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juice or that c
ontain additional sweeteners;
-drinks containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
"Soda consumption is associated with increased fracture risk due to reduced bone
mass. Soft drink intake also increases the incidence of dental caries or decay
and obesity especially among adolescents and young adults," the lawmakers said.
They added that phosphorus, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine and the carbon ac
ids impair the body's capacity to absorb calcium.
Soft drink consumption of children is linked to insufficient calcium in the body
, impaired calcification of growing bones, and increased risk of bone fracture,
they noted.
The high levels of caffeine in soft drinks could disrupt sleep and lead to anxie
ty and DNA damage and hyperactivity, especially among children.
The World Health Organization recognized that consumption of soft drinks contrib
utes to the growing incidence of obesity, as well as increased risks for heart d
isease, the lawmakers said.
On the other hand, the following beverages shall be sold at schools:
- Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and that do no
t contain additional sweeteners;
-waters and seltzer;
-low-fat or fat-free milk, including, but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy mi
lk, rice milk, and other similar dairy or non-dairy calcium-fortified milks.
The legislators also said that it is the duty of schools to provide free potable
water for students, staff and personnel.
"Local school boards shall include the costs for providing potable water consist
ent with Sections 99 and 100 of Republic Act No. 7160 of the Local Government Co
de of 1991," the authors stressed.
The proposed statute provides that all school shall have the duty to incorporate
into their curriculum lessons the effect of the consumption of unhealthy foods
and drinks, including the effects of sugar in the human body, the lady lawmakers
added.
"Recent studies associate soft drink consumption by young children with aggressi
on, attention problems, and withdrawal behavior," they said.
The European Journal of Cancer Prevention reported that researchers from the Uni
versity of Edinburgh found an association between higher risk of the colorectal
cancer and eating "high-energy snack foods" (snack foods high in sugar and fat)
and high-energy drinks (including sodas and other sugary beverages), they added.
The lawmakers also noted a 2010 study in Diabetes Care showing that drinking one
to two sugary drinks per day increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 percen
t, compared with having less than one serving a month.
__________________________________________________
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/02/28/1295439/robredo-seeks-passage-billbanning-softdrinks-schools
Robredo seeks passage of bill banning softdrinks in schools
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 28, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Reps. Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur and Arlene Bag-ao of D
inagat Islands are pushing for the immediate passage of a bill that bans soft dr
inks and other sugar-laden drinks in schools and require canteen operators to pr
ovide free potable water to protect the health of school children.
The lawmakers filed House Bill 4021 on Wednesday or the proposed Healthy Beverag
e Options Act of 2014 accompanied by 10-year-old Daniel Gatmaytan who has been c
ampaigning to ban soft drinks in schools.
Academic studies have shown that there is nothing healthy about carbonated soft d
rinks or soda, Robredo and Bag-ao said in their measure. Soft drinks contain sugar
, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, phosphorus and carbon acids, which have harmf
ul effects on the body.
It is the responsibility of the State to protect our children from exposure to ha
rmful substances. The sale of beverages that pose serious health risks can be cu
rbed under the States police power, they said.
Under the bill, the following beverages are banned in schools: soft drinks, spor
ts drinks, punch, iced tea and fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 perc
ent real fruit juice or that contain additional sweeteners as well as drinks con
taining caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
On the other hand, beverages such as fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50
percent fruit juice and do not contain additional sweeteners; water and seltzer
, and low-fat or fat-free milk, including chocolate milk, soy milk, rice milk an
d other dairy and non-dairy calcium-fortified milks are to be sold in schools.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The bill also mandates schools to provide potable water for free to students and
personnel.
The lawmakers cited several scientific studies that consistently showed the harm
ful effects of sodas and other sugary drinks, including diabetes, kidney disease
s, brittle bones, tooth decay, obesity, anxiety, hyperactivity, heart disease an
d even DNA damage and cancer.
__________________________________________________
http://www.philstar.com/metro/2014/03/04/1296745/soda-ban-schools-backed
Soda ban in schools backed
By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 4, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) yesterday suppo
rted calls to ban soda and other sugar-laden drinks in schools to fight obesity,
diabetes and hypertension.
PCP vice president Anthony Leachon said these illnesses are caused by high intak
e of sugar and calories, which are the main composition of soda.
Leachon noted that children should not be exposed to soda at a young age because
of its ill-effects on their health.
There are five million obese, 27 million overweight and seven million diabetic Fi
lipinos. By banning soda and other sweet drinks in schools, these figures will b
e reduced eventually, he added.
Close Ad X
He said the PCP supports 10-year-old Daniel Chip Gatmaytan who has been campaignin
g to ban soda.
Representatives Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur and Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Islan
ds have filed House Bill 4021 or the proposed Healthy Beverage Options to push G
atmaytans advocacy.
Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The bill seeks to prohibit the sale in schools of soft drinks, sports drinks, i
ced tea and fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juic
e or that contain additional sweeteners as well as drinks containing caffeine, e
xcluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
Beverages that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and do not contain additi
onal sweeteners; low-fat or fat-free milk, including chocolate milk, soy milk, r
ice milk and other dairy and non-dairy calcium-fortified milks are allowed to be
sold in schools.
__________________________________________________
https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1284110852!.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366437/money/economy/lawmakers-eye-ban-on-s
ugary-drinks-in-schools-by-2015
__________________________________________________
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/06/health/ucsf-sugar-sweetened-beverage-ban/
University tries out ban on sweetened beverages
By Susan Scutti, CNN
Updated 1833 GMT (0233 HKT) November 6, 2016
__________________________________________________
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/51711-bill-ban-soft-drinks-schools
__________________________________________________
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugary_Drinks_Portion_Cap_Rule
__________________________________________________
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-19593012
New York City bans supersize sodas
13 September 2012
From the section US & Canada
Share
Image caption The ban will not apply to alcohol, diet sodas or drinks that are m
ore than 70% juice
New York City has approved the first US ban on large-size sodas and other sugary
drinks being sold in restaurants and other eateries.
The measure was passed by eight members of the city s mayoral-appointed health b
oard, with one member abstaining.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called for the ban as a way to reduce
obesity and its related health problems.
Opponents have vowed to fight the law in court.
"We are smart enough to make our own decisions about what to eat and drink," Liz
Berman, a business owner and chair of New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, a softdrink industry sponsored group.
A New York Times poll in August suggested that 60% of New Yorkers were against t
he measure.
Major health problem
The ban, passed on Thursday, will apply to sodas and other sugary beverages larg
er than 16 ounce (0.5 litre) nearly everywhere they are sold, except groceries a
nd convenience stores.
Media captionNew York resident: "It should be up to the individual and not the m
ayor"
Diet sodas, alcoholic beverages and drinks that are more than 70% juice will not
be affected.
Restaurants and others that violate the law face a $200 (124) fine.
Health Commissioner Thomas Farley called the measure "a historic step to address
a major health problem of our time".
New York has become a national pacesetter on passing laws aimed at curbing obesi
ty. The city was among the first to require chain restaurants to post calorie co
unts prominently on their menus.
About one-third of Americans are obese, and about 10% of US healthcare costs are
tied to obesity-related disease, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
__________________________________________________
By Ryan Jaslow CBS News March 11, 2013, 6:06 PM
Bloomberg "confident" soda ban will be upheld
Comment Share Tweet Stumble Email
Last updated 6:06 p.m. EST
Smaller sodas were set to hit New York City eateries tomorrow until a judge step
ped in at the eleventh hour to strike down the new regulations.
New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling ruled Monday that the city may not
enforce the new regulation, CBS New York reported Monday afternoon. The ban, whi
ch was set to take place Tuesday, applied to sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces
sold at restaurants, fast food establishments, delis, sports venues and movie t
heaters. The limits do not apply to milk-based and alcoholic beverages sold at t
hese eateries. Also exempt are sugar-sweetened drinks sold at grocery stories an
d convenience stores.
Tingling said loopholes in the regulations defeated the limit s stated purpose.
"It is arbitrary and capricious because it applies to some but not all food esta
blishments in the City, it excludes other beverages that have significantly high
er concentrations of sugar sweeteners and/or calories on suspect grounds, the lo
opholes inherent in the Rule, including but not limited to limitations on re-fil
ls, defeat and/or serve to gut the purpose of the Rule," Tingling wrote in his r
uling.
New York City s ban on big sodas
9 Photos
New York City s ban on big sodas
There was to be a three-month grace period before violators could face $200 fine
s.
"I definitely believe it s going to hurt my business," Mary Cira of Pronto Pizza
, told CBS New York ahead of the ban. She said she had to throw out about $1,000
worth of 20-ounce and 2-liter bottles of soda and change her menus. "I have a c
ombo special with a 2-liter soda."
Since the sugary drink limits were first proposed last May, health advocates hav
e lauded Mayor Michael Bloomberg for taking a unique step to combat obesity, whi
le consumer groups and advocates for small business owners have accused the mayo
r of wanting to turn the city into a nanny state.
Sugar war: Is the sweet stuff toxic?
Play Video
Sugar war: Is the sweet stuff toxic?

"Certainly the Bloomberg Big Gulp ban is not going to solve obesity, but you kno
w what? It s a good baby step," sugar researcher Dr. Robert Lustig, a professor
of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, said on CBS This Morn
ingin February. "It s going in the right direction."
Center for Consumer Freedom Senior Research Analyst J. Justin Wilson said in a s
tatement he didn t expect the ban to make a meaningful difference, according to
CBS New York.
"Personal irresponsibility is what got New Yorkers to put on a few extra pounds.
And it s going to take personal responsibility, not a government takeover of ou
r diet, to shed that weight," he said.
Critics and the American Beverage Association had taken their challenges to cour
t since the Board of Health approved the mayor s proposal in September.
"It would be a tremendous waste of expense, time, and effort for our members to
incur all of the harm and costs associated with the ban if this court decides th
at the ban is illegal," Chong Sik Le, president of the New York Korean-American
Grocers Association, said in court papers filed in February.
CBS New York reported that some businesses were holding off on making changes to
their menus while awaiting a court to challenge or delay the ban. The judge iss
ued his ruling Monday afternoon.
Bloomberg on Big Gulp law: Not banning anything, just portion control
Play Video
Bloomberg on Big Gulp law: Not banning anything, just portion control
Mayor Bloomberg defended the ban on the March 10th "Face The Nation."
"This year, for the first time in the history of the world, more people will die
from too much food than from too little food. More people will die from the eff
ects of obesity than from starvation. And we ve got to do something about this.
This is going to bankrupt the country. Our medical system cannot handle it," he
said. "We ve just got to do something. And all we re doing in New York is remind
ing you that it s not in your interest to have too many empty calories," he adde
d.
One day ahead of the rules going into effect, the mayor s office had also releas
ed a study that found nine out of 10 of the New York City neighborhoods with the
highest obesity rates also were neighborhoods with the highest rates of sugary
drink consumption. City officials said the new data is the latest evidence that
sugary drinks are harming New Yorkers health.
"Reducing sugary drink consumption is critical to reducing obesity and obesity-r
elated illnesses, which kill more people in New York City than anything except s
moking. This is what the portion cap on sugary drinks is all about," city Health
Commissioner Thomas Farley said in a statement.
Bloomberg wants soda ban to go statewide so it applies to grocery stores
New York soda ban s rivals spar in court
NYC soda ban goes into effect in March, but fines won t start for 3 months
Bloomberg tweeted Monday that his office plans to appeal:
We plan to appeal the sugary drinks decision as soon as possible, and we are
confident the measure will ultimately be upheld.
-- NYC Mayor s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 11, 2013
The mayor also held a Monday evening press conference where he defended the suga
ry drink limits, noting their was initial controversy surrounding some of his ea
rlier health campaigns like banning smoking in workplaces or banning trans fats.
"It would be irresponsible not to do everything we can to try and save lives," h
e said.
Bloomberg also expressed confidence that the ruling would be turned over on appe
al and that a judge would eventually rule the city Board of Health was within it
s legal limits.
"There are many instances where a lower court decision has gone against us and b
een reversed," he said.
2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bloomberg-confident-soda-ban-will-be-upheld/
__________________________________________________
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/13/health/new-york-soda-ban
Anger over big, sugary soda ban in NYC
The proposal is meant to combat obesity and encourage residents to live heal
thier lifestyles
Critics have assailed the ban as "misguided" and "arbitrary"
New York City spends $4 billion a year on medical care for overweight people
, mayor says
One in eight New Yorkers suffer from diabetes, often linked to obesity, mayo
r notes
New York City s Board of Health voted Thursday to ban the sale of sugary drinks
in containers larger than 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues, in a move m
eant to combat obesity and encourage residents to live healthier lifestyles.
The board voted eight in favor, with one abstention.
"It s time to face the facts: obesity is one of America s most deadly problems,
and sugary beverages are a leading cause of it," said New York Mayor Michael Blo
omberg in a statement earlier this month. "As the size of sugary drinks has grow
n, so have our waistlines -- and so have diabetes and heart disease."
Bloomberg s visionary move against obesity
But the move is expected to draw further protest from the soda industry and thos
e concerned about government involvement in their personal choices.
"What we need in New York are sensible solutions to the obesity issue that focus
on a comprehensive approach to tackle an extremely complex problem," said Eliot
Hoff, a spokesman for a beverage industry-sponsored group called New Yorkers fo
r Beverage Choices. "New Yorkers are smart enough to decide for themselves what
to eat and drink."
Michael Bloomberg has been mayor of New York since 2002. While he has implemente
d changes in all areas of life for New Yorkers, his policies concerning health h
ave caused the most controversy. Here are some of his most memorable health prop
osals, not all of which were enacted:
Photos: Bloomberg s bans: Salt, sodas, smoking
NYC plans to ban large sugary drinks
NYC plans to ban large sugary drinks 04:11
Critics, including McDonald s and Coca-Cola, have assailed the ban as "misguided
" and "arbitrary," though Bloomberg has billed it as both a health and fiscal in
itiative.
New York City spends an estimated $4 billion each year on medical care for overw
eight people, the mayor said in an earlier statement.
Big Gulp? Meet Big Brother
One in eight New Yorkers also suffer from diabetes, a disease often linked to ob
esity, his office noted, calling sugary drinks "the single largest driver of the
se alarming increases in obesity."
About 58% of New York City adults are considered overweight or obese, the mayor
added.
In 2007, the Bloomberg-appointed health board adopted a regulation that forced r
estaurants to all but eliminate the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
and spreads, the main sources of trans fats in the U.S. diet.
Thursday s decision is expected to take effect in six months and be enforced by
the city s regular restaurant inspection team, allowing restaurant owners nine m
onths to adapt to the changes before facing fines.
"6 months from today, our city will be an even healthier place," Bloomberg tweet
ed on Thursday.
The ban would not apply to grocery stores.
__________________________________________________
http://www.forbes.com/sites/natesadeghi/2012/09/13/nycs-soda-ban-is-a-good-ideabut-a-tax-would-be-better/#525b96da7500
Sep 13, 2012 @ 05:10 PM 25,650 views
12 Stocks to Buy for 2017
NYC s Soda Ban Is A Good Idea, But A Tax Would Be Better
Nathan Sadeghi-Nejad ,
Contributor
I write about drugs, devices, services and healthcare policy.
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 24: Lisa Young, PhD, RD, ...
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 24: Lisa Young, PhD, a researcher on portion sizes, adjunct
professor at New York University and author of the Portion Teller Plan, speaks i
n support of a proposed soda ban. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Earlier today, the New York City Board of Health voted unanimously to approve Ma
yor Bloomberg s proposed ban on sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ou
nces at any establishment that receives a grade from the health department. Abse
nt a court ruling, the ban will take effect in six months.
Members of virtually every major constituency, from Republican politicians to Th
e Daily Show s Jon Stewart, have vociferously objected to the Mayor s plan. A re
cent New York Times poll found that 60% of participants objected to the so-calle
d "soda ban." The disapproval is both widespread and geographically diverse: the
same poll revealed majority opposition in each of New York City s five boroughs
.
There s only one problem. The pundits, politicians, and populace are wrong. Like
it or not, the soda ban is a good idea.
Over the past three decades, obesity has become a massive problem in the U.S. Th
e Centers for Disease Control s (CDC) recently published obesity map (scroll to
the bottom) offers a frightening look at U.S. obesity trends. Whether or not you
consider obesity a disease or a disorder, rising rates of Type II diabetes and
other obesity-linked complications threaten the long-term economic health of our
country.
Something must be done.
My dad, a pediatric endocrinologist who has seen childhood obesity soar in his c
linic over the past thirty years, has long referred to sugary drinks as "empty c
alories." He s right. Soda and other sweetened beverages are luxury items that o
ffer no nutritional benefit to the consumer. Even the food at McDonald s offers
modest nutrition at a low price -- a defensible value proposition, especially fo
r low-income individuals. Soda proponents can make no such claim.
So although I support Mayor Bloomberg s soda ban, my preference would be for a c
ommon sense, albeit politically impossible solution: a soda tax.
The industry s powerful lobby quickly quashed efforts to include a soda tax in P
resident Obama s Affordable Care Act (ACA), thereby eliminating a major potentia
l source of funding and forcing greater cuts to Medicare. Politics also doomed M
ayor Bloomberg s initial proposal for a soda tax, which I think of as "the plan
before the ban."
Recommended by Forbes
The idea of a special tax on luxury, whether real or perceived, isn t revolution
ary. Consider New York s "mansion tax," which requires homebuyers to pay an addi
tional 1% sales tax on any dwelling that costs more than $1 million. Anyone fami
liar with New York City real estate knows that $1 million hardly buys a mansion,
yet the law hasn t led to criticism on Comedy Central. Although I realize the p
otential influence of socioeconomic factors on public opinion, the two taxes are
conceptually identical.
Opponents of the soda ban tend to highlight the law s restrictions on freedom of
choice, while bemoaning an inevitable Bloomberg "nanny state." This view has se
rious flaws. First, choice has always been restricted by industry, yet no one ob
jected to the far smaller portion sizes common in the 1980s or lobbied for the f
reedom to supersize. Second, the ban is far from comprehensive. New Yorkers most
often purchase sugary beverages in the grocery store, at a corner bodega, or a
chain convenience store. None of these establishments are currently subject to t
he soda ban.
__________________________________________________
New Yorkers on benefits face fizzy drinks ban
By Dave Howard
Newsbeat US reporter
2 Jun 2011
Dennis, Johnson and Javii,
With a month to go before the height of summer, temperatures in New York are alr
eady hitting 30C (86F).
For Dennis, Johnson and Javii, playing basketball in the Bronx, it s the kind of
weather for a refreshing fizzy drink.
"Soda s good for us," says Johnson.
Dennis is even sure fizzy drinks can help with medical problems: "If you have a
stomach ache," he says, "What does your mom buy?"
He answers his own question: "Ginger ale, right? That s a soda."
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Twenty-three-year-old Dominique Pleasant is sitting nearby with her two daughter
s. They re all drinking cans of cola.
Like more than a quarter of people in the Bronx, Dominique qualifies for food st
amps.
"Food stamps is free money from the government to purchase food," she explains.
"It s for people on low incomes, single parent families like us or people that d
on t have a job."
It s stupid
It s estimated 1.7 million New Yorkers claim food stamps.
Now the city s waiting to hear if the federal government in Washington will allo
w a ban on spending food stamps on fizzy drinks.
Dennis, Johnson and Javii
Image caption Dennis, Johnson and Javii enjoy a fizzy drink while playing basket
ball
Health officials say it s to cut obesity and tackle illnesses like diabetes.
"I think it s stupid," says Dominique. "It makes no sense. The air we are breath
ing is bad but they aren t trying to stop that."
New York has seen a long line of moves lately to try to improve public health.
It s just banned smoking in public parks. Chain restaurants have to put calorie
counts on menus.
There s been a series of hard-hitting adverts on local TV warning of the dangers
of fizzy drinks.
Officials say it s about helping people make the right choices.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/13618342/new-yorkers-on-benefits-face-fizz
y-drinks-ban
__________________________________________________
https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/Decisions/2014/Jun14/134opn14-Decision.pdf
134opn14-Decision
__________________________________________________
http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_16/HB04269.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/conferences/dlsu_research_congress/2014/_pdf/proceedings/
FNH-II-013-ft.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/afjv14(2)2007/69-81.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://sydney.edu.au/science/molecular_bioscience/cphn/pdfs/Soft%20Drinks%20Heal
th%20Review-2.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.euromonitor.com/soft-drinks-in-the-philippines/report
__________________________________________________
http://www.wpro.who.int/topics/adolescent_health/philippines_fs.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/2522229/soft_drinks_in_philippines.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v59/n12/pdf/1602258a.pdf
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
http://www.addictiontips.net/phone-addiction/phone-addiction-symptoms/
12 Unexpected Symptoms of Phone Addiction
February 25th, 2015 in Phone Addiction
facebook iconFacebook
twitter iconTwitter
linkedin iconLinkedin
google iconGoogle
email iconEmail
At least 3 of these phone addiction symptoms will be completely new to you. You
might be shocked to discover which ones
A staggering amount of people, especially teens, are addicted to smartphones.
This increased usage of smartphones has led to a lot of physical and psychologic
al effects that are harmful for the well-being of these individuals.
This issue is so serious that a word has been invented just for it: Nomophobia.
This term is given to phone addicts that completely lose their mind when they ar
e away from their phones.
The smartphone was invented to keep us connected to the world, our friends, and
family. However, its over-use has become a major reason of keeping us disconnect
ed from our real relations.
This misuse of technology has severe consequences, among which the most prominen
t symptoms are given below.
1. Increased Levels of Stress
increased stress
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People that compulsively check their phones every minute are extremely addicted
to it. Their mind and body constantly remains under stress due to their habit of
checking their phones after short intervals.
When you are on a vacation, where you are supposed to feel stress-free, you chec
k your phone first thing in the morning. You chat with your colleagues and get a
nxious about your work.
The fact that you can check your phone and get updates from work, you are puttin
g a lot of work-stress on your mind.
1a. Stress on Fingers
A research conducted in the University of Zurich recorded the brain activity of
smartphone addicts with an EEG.
The scientists found that the participants that constantly use their smartphones
have a high level of brain activity every time they touch their fingers on thei
r phones screen.
This increased electrical activity in the brain results in severe stress on the
fingers and the mind.
1b. Stress on the Mind
After a long and hectic day at work, many people excessively use their phones.
Working hours are enough stressful to drain you off energy. However, phone addic
ts still feel the need of putting their mind under massive stress.
Not only their eye muscles get tired, their energy levels deteriorate.
1c. Stress on the Body
When you use your phone, you look down at it.
Tilting your head forward puts a strain on your neck and back and results in a p
ermanently disturbed posture.
This tilting of head puts a lot of stress on your neck, shoulder, and cervical s
pine, which can turn into chronic back pain in the long run.
2. Insomnia
insomnia
People who are addicted to phones find it hard to unplug from work and social ne
tworks.
At night, lying on the bed, one should focus on giving the mind and body some re
st and this is exactly what sleep is for.
However, constantly checking your phone and keeping it next to your pillow is do
ing more damage than you ever imagined. Letting your phone usage invade your sle
ep is the worst thing you are doing to your mind and body.
This over-use of technology may lead to stress, less productivity, lower energy
levels, difficulty concentrating, and lower brain activity.
Melatonin, a chemical in our body, plays an important role in our natural sleepwake cycle. This chemical interprets light and darkness and sends a signal to th
e body when it is night time, the time to sleep.
However, when we make use of phones at night, melatonin mistakes the artificial
light for daytime. As a result, we find it hard to sleep which causes various sl
eeping disorders including insomnia.
3. Anxiety
anxiety
With the introduction of smartphones, we are able to connect to the world with j
ust a click.
However, this efficient technology has several drawbacks that directly impact ou
r mind and body. The anxiousness that comes by hearing a small ping causes sever
e anxiety.
The constant urge of checking the phone and finding no message on it results in
stress. People start to stress their mind and worry about not getting any messag
e.
Many phone addicts wait for a message to come, which causes stress and anxiety.
We have become highly dependent on our phones and limited our brain activity and
learning experience because we have everything saved on our phones. We no longe
r feel the need of learning something because it is on our phones which travels
everywhere with us.
People using smartphones feel socially obligated to stay connected to social net
works, which keeps them hooked to the device, giving them no time to relax.
4. Depression
depression
People nowadays prefer virtual communication instead of a face-to-face one.
People that are addicted to their phones find it hard to stay away from them. Su
ch people then feel strong withdrawal symptoms when they cannot have their phone
s including severe depression.
A lot of depression is caused when we are anxiously waiting for a text-message o
r a call but do not receive one.
Our minds start to think why didnt he/she call me back?, why isnt he replying to me?,
y friends are busy texting but I am alone, etc.
We are so much influenced by our phones that we cannot think of a world where ph
ones dont exist.
5. Aggressiveness
agressiveness
Smartphone is a valuable technology that has its benefits. However, getting addi
cted to it may cause several behavioral shifts and problems including aggression
.
The people that constantly use their phones are unable to look away from them. I
n some cases, the addiction is so worse that people feel angry when their phone
is taken away from them.
A great number of teens do not let anyone touch their phones. When they lose the
ir phones, they show signs of aggression which results in constant mood swings,
feeling of unhappiness, and irritation on little things.
6. Delinquency
delinquency
Addiction to phone can make a person careless and cause several behavioral issue
s. Many people are so addicted to their phones that they cant keep it away while
driving, eating, studying, talking to someone, etc.
Such people are misusing the technology, which has a severe impact on their beha
vior. Phone addicts believe that using a phone while in a face-to-face conversat
ion isnt rude. Teens often use their phone while studying for their exams, which
results in poor GPA.
Moreover, people who are addicted to their phones use them wherever they go. Whe
ther it is a funeral, a family gathering, or school, they constantly stay busy w
ith their phones.
7. An inability to stop the use of cell phone despite knowing you will be faced
with negative consequences
compulsive phone checking
One of the major symptoms that have been noted in people with excessive use of p
hones is that they find it hard to leave their phones for good.
Children and teens that cover a greater percentage of phone addicts often fail t
o understand the consequences that this over-use of technology may have on their
lives.
When therapists or medical experts tell them about the health problems linked to
over-use of phones, they simply ignore it. Phone addiction is very similar to a
lcohol addiction. People abusing alcohol know that it could potentially harm the
ir health and in worst cases take away their lives.
However, they continue to drink without thinking about its negative effects. The
same goes for people who use their phone as they drive or perform other daily t
asks.
8. Difficulties experienced in relating with other people
not relating to other people
Addiction to smartphones causes relationships and friendships to break.
People that constantly use their phones cant keep away from them. They feel the o
bligation of constantly checking on their phones. Whether they are hanging out w
ith friends or family, they simply cant look away from their phones.
As a result, people around them feel upset. For example, using a smartphone whil
e on a date with your significant other might make them infuriated. Things like
these are included in phone etiquettes that most of us fail to understand.
By using our phones, we disconnect ourselves with the real world, which is a hug
e problem that causes relationships to break.
Smart phones were invented to keep us connected to the world. However, people in
todays world have taken it to the next level by isolating themselves from the re
al world.
They are so much engrossed in fancy applications, exciting games, and interestin
g conversations that they fail to make valuable interactions and fulfill their c
ommitments.
Using your phone while in a company is not only rude but it also breaks the soci
al flow of conversations.
9. Craving more time with your phone
craving phone time
When you cant stay away from your phone for more than 15 minutes, you are addicte
d to it. People often feel excited and anxious to explore new things in their ph
ones. This includes downloading interesting apps and games.
Phone addicts usually cant have enough of their phones, which is why they cant put
it away for even a second. At night, many phone users keep themselves forcefull
y awake in order to use their phones to chat, socialize, watch videos, and play
games.
Todays phones are extremely dynamic, they let us use internet, connect to friends
in other countries, and get non-stop entertainment, which is why people find it
more interesting to stay awake and use their phones instead of sleeping.
People have become so dependent on their phones for everything including communi
cation, news, updates, and assignments that they dont find the need of limiting t
heir phone usage.
Moreover, when people cant use their phones at work, they are desperate to use it
after working hours which not only puts stress on their minds but their bodies
as well.
10. Neglecting spending time with your family and friends
no time with family
Smartphone was introduced to help people connect in a better way. In olden days,
it was extremely hard to talk to a loved one in another continent. However, peo
ple started to use phones for everything.
Today, when people are attending an event or are part of a social gathering, the
y are engrossed in their phones instead of conversing with the people around the
m.
Adolescents are most affected by phones than anyone else.
People nowadays are practically married to their cell phones because they are co
nstantly in contact with them. Those days are long gone when you could hang with
friends and family without being distracted.
Those were the days when people would actually spend valuable time with their lo
ved ones. Today, when a person goes out for lunch with friends, he/she stays bus
y socializing with other friends rather than socializing with the people physica
lly present in front of them.
Many parents have been reported to complain about this excessive use of cell pho
ne and some have even confiscated it. This excessive usage of phone can cause fi
ghts, arguments, and even loss of relationships.
11. Changes in the sleep patterns
change sleep pattern

Phone usage at nighttime has been linked to disturbed sleeping patterns by sever
al medical experts and researchers. Artificial light from a phone can damage our
melatonin signals so much so that we cannot sleep on time.
Moreover, using the phone for entertainment purpose makes us want to stay awake
for longer hours. Constant repetition of this schedule disrupts our natural slee
ping patterns.
Such people usually sleep less than seven hours, which causes several health ris
ks including diabetes, heart problems, depression, inability to concentrate, poo
r memory, inactive mind, and learning problems.
12. Not taking part in healthy activities
no healthy activities
Why put stress on the mind to solve a problem when you can simply find it online
through your smartphone? Phones have become the solution to everything and not
every time these solutions are for our benefit.
Sometimes, when a person is too addicted to a phone, he/she fails to take part i
n all the healthy activities including brainstorming, learning, walking, sociali
zing, etc.
People find answer to their problems with the help of a single click and thats th
e reason they avoid the effort.
Habits like socialization suffer greatly due to phone addiction.
People prefer staying connected to their phones while at an occasion or meeting.
They are going away from healthy forms of communication to spend time in commun
icating through technology.
Moreover, they use phones to search for assignments instead of going out doing p
ractical research. Many things like these are taking us away from healthy activi
ties that have a positive impact on our lives.
Every child of this generation owns a smartphone. They prefer playing games on t
heir phones instead of going out in a natural setting with friends.
They like playing virtual football rather than playing it in actual fields, whic
h keeps them away from healthy physical activity that they can highly benefit fr
om.
Smartphone technology was created to serve us in a positive way, to connect us t
o the world, and to help us explore. However, this technology has been put to th
e wrong use and many of us are getting addicted to it.
There are real dangers to smart phone addiction including prominent physical and
mental disorders. It is important to manage your smart phone use and avoid expl
oiting the technology.
Appreciate the technology that has been provided to you instead of letting it ru
le your life.
Read more at http://www.addictiontips.net/phone-addiction/phone-addiction-sympto
ms/
Article written by: John

__________________________________________________
Overusing cell phones can lead to physical and mental ailments
Caroline Brindle | The Breeze Apr 29, 2015 ()
Walking on campus, waiting in line for Starbucks, studying at the library and sitt
ing on the bus everywhere we turn it seems as though someone has a cellphone in
their hand. If this sounds like you, no worries. Im just as guilty. With such imm
ediate access to communication and social media apps, it seems nearly impossible
to set down that pesky phone. Though, after researching the health risks associ
ated with constant phone usage, I think its time for us to all get a grip and fig
ht off that urge to beat your Candy Crush high score.
Lets start with the windows to the soul, our eyes. Digital eye strain has recently
become a common diagnosis among avid cellphone users. As silly as this sounds, i
ts a legitimate problem in the world we live in. The symptoms for digital eye str
ain include irritated eyes, fatigue, eye strain, blurry vision, problems focusin
g, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, as well as binocular vision problems. One
cause of these ailments (aside from uninterrupted usage and small screens) is th
e high energy light emitted by the screen leading to age-related macular degener
ation, which can lead to vision loss.
High cellphone usage also causes increased levels of stress and negative emotion
s as if we need anymore stress in our lives on top of schoolwork. Without realiz
ing it, the constant alerts of messages, emails, phone calls and social media no
tifications can put a serious toll on your mental health, causing stress and sle
ep disturbance. Remind yourself that some things can wait (yes, that selfie you
posted will still be there in a couple of hours), its not worth losing sleep over
. Cellphone usage mid-conversation with friends causes strained relationships an
d negative feelings. Lets face it, who wants to be ignored with an electronic dev
ice? On the other hand, having strong eye contact and engaging in conversation m
akes for all-around positive emotions.
Let me take a step backfor a minute and talk about other physical health problem
s caused by cellphones. How many people have perfect posture as they respond to
their moms texts about their days? Basically nobody. Posture is a big issue ass
ociated with phone use. Think about it: we spend about two to four hours a day w
ith our necks bent, reading the latest addition to our newsfeed thats nearly 60 p
ounds worth of pressure being placed on the cervical spine. This constant neck b
end, though it may not bother you now, can lead to chronic pain later in life.
http://www.breezejmu.org/life/overusing-cell-phones-can-lead-to-physical-and-men
tal-ailments/article_843f9600-ee80-11e4-a818-73ae3c593528.html
__________________________________________________
5 Seriously Bad Side Effects of Your Smartphone Addiction
Yes, there are now cell phone-related syndromes.
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You constantly look at it. When you aren t around it, you feel anxious, and when
you have it, it s all you can think about. Yes, we re talking about your smartp
hone. Our obsession with mobile gadgets has become epic one in every five people
in the world own a smartphone these days. And now there are a handful of new sy
ndromes that come with that addiction.
1. Text Claw and Cell Phone Elbow
"Text Claw" is a non-medical term used to describe all of the finger cramping an
d sore muscles that come from continuous scrolling, texting, and gaming on smart
phones. An even more common side effect: Using your phone too much can cause inf
lammation in your tendons and enhance existing conditions, like tendinitis and c
arpal tunnel. Similarly, "Cell Phone Elbow" describes tingling or numbness in ri
ng and pinky fingers after bending your elbow for long periods of time.
If your non-stop smartphoning has you feeling sore and weak, do some stretches.
Put down the phone, then try bending your wrists backward, putting your hands to
gether like a prayer and pushing down. Then, doing some wrist flexes. If you exp
erience pain for longer than a week, try applying heat. Or better still, see a d
octor.
2. iPosture and Text Neck
Slouching over your phone for hours at a time is ruining your neck and hurting y
our back muscles. "iPosture" or "Text Neck" are just two of a few phrases doctor
s throw around to describe the excessive stress on neck muscles. According to a
study of young adults in the U.K., 84% of those tracked experienced back pain du
ring the last year, mainly due to being hunched over smartphones, tablets, and c
omputers.
Fixing your posture can relieve lower back pain, and limiting your phone use can
alleviate neck strain. While it seems awkward, try to hold your phone directly
out and in front of your face, not on your lap where you might need to look down
for minutes at a time.
3. Computer Vision Syndrome
Staring at the tiny font in your texts and scrolling through dozens of tweets ca
n lead to eyestrain, blurred vision, dizziness, and dry eyes. And blurred vision
plus sore neck muscles can also cause headaches.
If you re experiencing eye discomfort, make your phone s font size bigger. Mark
Rosenfield, O.D., Ph.D., told Men s Health that phone users should try to hold t
heir phones at least 16 inches away from their faces. Every few minutes look up
from your screen at something far away for short breaks, and don t forget to bli
nk.
RELATED: The Habits That Are Ruining Your Eyes
4. Nomophobia
Short for "no-mobile-phone phobia," this is exactly what it sounds like: the fea
r of being without your cell. According to a study of 1,000 people in the U.K.,
66% of the population fears losing or being without their phones at any given ti
me. Some of the symptoms of nomophobia include anxiety or negative physical symp
toms if you have lost or cannot use your cell phone, obsessively checking to mak
e sure you have your phone with you, and constantly worrying about losing it som
ewhere. Interestingly, the study found that women suffer from this more than men
.
If this sounds like you, experts suggest employing common anxiety-relieving rela
xation techniques like yoga and deep breathing.
5. Phantom Pocket Vibration Syndrome
No, you didn t just get a text message! A professor at Indiana University found
that 89% of the undergraduates in her study experienced phantom vibrations when
their phones weren t actually vibrating. The study also found that students who
were dependent on text messages and social media updates were more anxious when
their phones weren t really vibrating.
A good way to break the addiction? Try shutting your vibration function off and
commit to only checking your phone during designated hours. If you have to keep
your phone with you, place it in your bag instead. And try to resist checking yo
ur bag every five minutes. Otherwise, you might become the first case of Phantom
Bag Vibration Syndrome.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a24269/smartphone-syndromes/
__________________________________________________
15 Facts About The Brain Of A Phone Addict
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Phone overuse can lead to 3 serious mental illness. Read on to discover if youre
at risk before its too late.
In todays society it seems almost like it is second nature to have some type of c
ellphone or smartphone in front of you all of the time.
There are many people who can conduct their entire day of work and all of their
socializing without ever putting their phone down, using it for everything that
comes along.
As smartphones become more and more prevalent in the world today scientists and
studies have taken much more of an interest in the notion of their being smartph
one addiction and what type of an effect this can actually have on a person.
All it takes is a little bit of analysis and research and you can find notions p
retty easily about how using a smartphone all of the time can actually have some
type of adverse effect on you.
Here are 15 facts about the brain of a phone addict and some of the things that
can happen to you as a result of being addicted to your smartphone.
1. Phone addicts run a higher risk for developing depression
depression phone addict

People are always on the lookout for ways that can lead to the path of depressio
n.
Many doctors and psychologists have developed a variety of theories and studies
that showcase different reasons that can bring about depression in many individu
als and one of the things they are looking closely at today is people who are su
ffering from some type of phone addiction.
While phone addiction is not in itself classified as an actual disorder at this
time, many who are studying the idea have come across those who find the compuls
ion to use their smartphones and cellphones all day long for everything are more
susceptible to having bouts of depression in their lives.
Scientists are not clear as to the exact reasoning behind this just
y feel there may be a correlation between the overuse of a phone as
taying in touch with the world leading to feelings of isolation and
which can bring about a state of depression.
2. Those with a phone addiction are more likely to suffer from some
ssive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
yet, but man

a means of s
loneliness,
type of Obse
ocd phone addict

There does seem to be a correlation between those that use their smartphone exce
ssively and for nearly every aspect of their life and those that may suffer from
a form of OCD.
Very often those with OCD need to have things highly organized in a certain way
and things must be tightly regimented to run at certain times.
Smartphones feed into this notion by providing you with the precision that you m
ay need in life by giving you ways for regular notifications and alarms to help
keep things running smoothly the way you may need them to run.
This can lead to a compulsive behavior pattern where people may feel the need to
use the smartphone for everything because it is correct and organized all of th
e time, never steering them in the wrong direction.
3. Phone Addicts may suffer from a lack of social skills
lack social skills
This fact has long been the fear of many in society, especially when it comes to
younger people using smartphones on a regular basis.
They are growing up only knowing how to communicate with others via email, text
message and video chat and have not learned the proper way to hold a conversatio
n with someone.
For people that only use their smartphones for all of these details and communic
ations, they will not be able to act properly in many social situations because
they have not developed the skills needed for proper interaction.
4. The brains of phone addicts show some similarities to that of drug addicts
brain phone addict
While there is still a great deal of study being done on this particular aspect,
there have been some studies that areas of the brain that are typically highlig
hted and stimulated during drug use are also being stimulated during overuse of
the smartphone.
People are receiving the same stimulation of their pleasure centers of the brain
as they would with other types of addictions and find that their mind and body
begin to physically crave the use of a device much in the way a drug addict woul
d crave a particular substance.
5. Too much phone use can cause the failure to release melatonin
release melatonin
You have probably heard of melatonin as a natural substance you can take to help
you get to sleep.
Melatonin is actually something released into your system by your brain that is
designed to help your body reach a state of relaxation.
There have been studies that are able to link the overuse of smartphones and cel
lphones to a delayed release or a lack of release of melatonin into your body.
This happens particularly with those that insist on using their phones for hours
while in bed or right before they try to go to sleep.
The use of the phone and the light emitted from the phone confuses your body int
o thinking that it is not time for sleeping yet and does not release the melaton
in or not enough of it to help you fall asleep properly, which can lead you dire
ctly into number 6 on this list.
6. Phone addicts suffer more from a lack of sleep and insomnia
insomnia lack sleep
A lot of this can go back to the explanation in reason number 5 where melatonin
is not being produced and released properly in your body when you are using the
phone too much.
Others have found, however, that using the phone constantly, especially right be
fore bed or while you are in bed, contributes to you not getting the proper amou
nt of sleep or suffering from insomnia where you cannot sleep at all.
This can be attributed to your brain being overstimulated by what you were doing
on your phone, whether it was texting, looking at social media, playing games,
listening to music or any of a dozen other things you could do.
Your brain and body have concentrated so much on these activities that they are
too wound up to let your body relax and sleep.
7. Phone addicts have a harder time distinguishing needs versus wants
need check phone
This particular notion does harken back to classifying this as an addiction and
this type of attitude is often seen among those that have addiction problems wit
h alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex or any other type of addiction.
Those that may be considered to be a phone addict can no longer see the differen
ce between needing to use their smartphone for certain tasks and wanting to use
their smartphone and can create scenarios for them to justify the overall use of
the phone anytime that they want to use it, thinking that it is an absolute nee
d.
8. Phone addicts do show a shrinking of brain matter
surface level brain
This study was done on a small sample of people who averaged a high amount of sm
artphone use for the study, but there was an indication that surface level of th
e brain matter in a portion of those in the study did show some shrinking and de
crease over those who used their smartphones infrequently or only when needed.
This study could indicate that overuse of a smartphone could have the adverse ef
fect on your brain matter just as other addictions can have.
9. Phone addicts display a poorer work/school performance
poor work performance
For those that may have a phone addiction, there is a correlation between overal
l work and school performance, and excessive hours spent using a smartphone.
The phone use can get in the way of performing tasks during work or school, caus
ing distraction and making it harder for people to concentrate.
This can lead to overall poorer performance in daily tasks at work or at school.
10. Phone addicts tend to have reduced inhibitions
reduced inhibitions
A reduced level of inhibition is common among all types of addictions and it has
shown to be true among those who are addicted to using their smartphones.
The users spend so much time wrapped up in the worlds that exist on their phones
, whether it is playing games, checking email, looking at websites, texting or o
ther tasks, that they lose touch with what should be appropriate behavior, getti
ng the same feeling almost as a high that people might get from using drugs and po
ssibly putting themselves into riskier situations than they might normally try.
11. Phone addicts display a diminished goal orientation
less goal oriented
Because someone is addicted to the use of their phone, they have less of a conce
rn about what is going on in the world around them and are more likely to let go
of goals that now seem unimportant to them.
This can be very basic from doing certain household chores to higher goals such
as studying and doing well on particular tests, preparing for a job interview or
performing certain tasks at work.
The person is less driven to reach these goals because they would rather spend t
heir time using their phone.
12. Phone addicts may suffer from greater memory loss
memory loss
There is a great deal linked to addiction and memory loss and a phone addiction
can be no different.
Constant and overuse of the phone for whatever reason can be taxing on the brain
even if it does not feel that way at the time it is being used.
Those who engage in overuse may have trouble with their short-term and long-term
memory, having a failure to recall certain things that they have done or are su
pposed to do because the phone has become the dominant point in their life.
13. Phone addicts find it harder to retrieve information
retrieve information
A lot of this fact goes back to the effects that a phone addiction can have on t
he brain and on memory loss.
Too much use of the phone can lead a person to have a harder time recalling any
type of information.
This can be particular true when they are so accustomed to using their phone for
everything that they do in life.
When the phone is not available for use they may have a harder time making decis
ions, discovering facts and retrieving information that they might normally know
.
14. Phone addicts develop higher tolerance levels for phone use, require a great
er need
using phone more
As is the case with a number of addictions, a certain level of tolerance can beg
in to build anytime that you overuse anything.
It then requires more and more use to help you achieve the same feelings of reli
ef and satisfaction for your body.
This is true of phone addicts, who will require longer and longer periods of usi
ng their phone regularly and more often in order to feel at peace with what they
are doing and be satisfied with their lives.
15. A phone addicts brain becomes trained to feel good through phone use
training brain
As an addict, the person that is overusing and abusing their phone use will beco
me so reliant on using their phone regularly that the use will feel better and b
etter to them all of the time.
Their brain will become used to the good feelings it receives when the phone is
being used and want to replicate that feeling more and more all of the time, lea
ding to perhaps an even greater addiction and more use.
Like any type of addiction, there is going to be some type of impact that occurs
on the brain of the person that is considered to be a phone addict.
The more the device gets used for hours and hours each day the more the brain an
d body are going to come to rely on and crave the use, causing the person to try
to find more and more time to use the phone each day.
This will naturally come to interfere with the daily lifestyle that the person w
ould normally lead as they become wrapped up in just using their phone.
There are more studies going on all the time as smartphones are still relatively
new to the world so there is nothing definitive as of yet but there does seem t
o be a real distinction among the brain of a phone addict when compared to other
s.
Read more at http://www.addictiontips.net/phone-addiction/brain-phone-addiction/
__________________________________________________
Are You A Phone Addict? (25 Questions To Ask Yourself)
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Ask yourself the following 25 questions. If you answer yes to more than half, you
are most likely addicted to your phone, and you should seek professional help.
It is hard to imagine the world that is today that a person would not have some
type of cellphone or smartphone to use on a regular basis.
What can be difficult for some to imagine is that someone might get readily hook
ed on using a smartphone, but it happens all of the time.
Smartphones today can handle so many of the tasks that people used to need three
or four different devices for that it is no wonder that a person can spend hour
s at a time using their phone for work, entertainment, information and leisure.
The real danger becomes when you find yourself using a smartphone to the detrime
nt of others and the rest of your life because at that point you may be becoming
a smartphone addict.
Here are 25 questions to ask yourself to see if you are a phone addict and rely
too much on your smartphone.
1. What do you do if your phone is not in the same room with you?
phone different room
For most people something like this occurring is not really that big of a deal.
They might leave their phone in the bedroom to charge while they eat dinner or h
ave the phone laying around as they go about their evening.
However, there are some people who might fly into a bit of a panic if they look
around and do not see their phone right nearby where they could access it easily
if they need to use it.
2. Your vacation spot does not have cellular service. Do you still go on vacatio
n?
vacation phone coverage
This can be a pretty dicey question for many people and might really help determ
ine if you need to have your phone around you too much.
The whole idea of going on vacation is to be able to get away from everything th
at is part of your normal routine.
While many places do you have cell service today, there are locations where ther
e is none and international service costs much more than regular service in your
country.
With this question you really need to be sure of what your priorities are going
to be.
3. Your new job says you cannot have cellphones on during the workday. What do y
ou do?
job no cellphone
Much like the vacation question, this question can lead to some tough issues if
you really are a phone addict.
Most places of work do not want you spending hours attached to your smartphone w
hen you could be doing productive work.
They find the phones can be too distractive and many places have put some restri
ctions in place.
There are also some jobs where having a cellphone on you all day is not practica
l so it is prohibited.
If you find yourself wrestling with this question and feel you might have a hard
time doing your job with no phone access, you may have an issue.
4. Where is your phone right now?
where phone now
If you are able to answer this question just by glancing into one of your hands
right now, you may be a phone addict.
While most people may have their phone within easy reach during the day (on thei
r desk, in their purse, in their pocket and the like), it is not every person wh
o knows where their phone is at all times or uses it often enough so that it may
be in their hands for most of the day.
If you never have to think where it is, it is around you too much.
5. Do you know what a text message is?
text message
While this may seem like a silly question, there are people that are not aware o
f what a text message is let alone how to send one.
While knowing what a text message is certainly is not a true indicator of whethe
r or not you might be a smartphone addict, if you are fluent in the language and
acronyms used throughout the world of texting and can type out a text message f
aster than you can do anything else, you may have spent too much time doing this
type of task.
6. Why do you have a cell phone?
why cell phone

This is an interesting question to ponder and might help you to answer whether o
r not you are a phone addict.
For most people, the notion of having a cellphone was always one so that they co
uld be reached in the case of an emergency or had a phone if they really needed
quick access to one.
While most people have moved beyond this as the sole purpose of having a cellpho
ne, if you have trouble actually coming up with a reason why you might really ne
ed to have a cellphone at all, you may not have a real need for the phone as muc
h as you have a want and desire for it.
7. Where is your phone while you sleep?
phone sleeping
The majority of people will be able to answer this pretty easily, but how you an
swer can determine if you are a phone addict.
For most, they will place their phone on their nightstand or whatever location i
t needs to be in so that it can easily charge overnight and be ready for the nex
t day.
However, those that may have an addiction problem might be tempted to actually h
ave the phone in bed with them, meaning they were using the phone right up until
the time they fell asleep or they have a need to have the phone near them at al
l times, even if there is no need for you to really have the phone next to you o
n your pillow while you sleep.
8. What would you do if you had to go somewhere and could not bring your phone?
leaving phone home
While this may not happen to most people very often, there may be occasions wher
e there are places where you cannot bring your phone or, at the very least, are
not allowed to turn it on for use while you are at a particular location.
You would have to be able to come to a decision as to whether it is a place you
want to go or not, and those that might have an addiction might actually think t
wice about going if they knew they could not bring their phone with them.
9. Do you treat your phone like a person?
phone person
There are some people that really do this, calling their phone by a particular n
ame they may have given it, interacting with it through voice commands so that i
t is almost like you are talking to a person or even referring to the phone so t
hat it sounds like referring to another person.
Many people get easily caught up in having some type of relationship with their ph
ones and end up using it so often that it feels like they have a friend in their
cellphone.
10. Do you use your phone to check the time?
check time phone

A lot of people have even stopped wearing a watch because they just use their ph
one as the source that they need for whatever time it may be, but this may be a
sign that you have come to rely on your phone too much to provide you with infor
mation.
While it may seem like a small thing to you and is really no big deal, it can al
so be another excuse for you to make use of your phone when you may not really n
eed to do so.
11. Could you choose between using your phone and a relationship?
phone or relationship
This question may be a clear indication to you whether you have an addiction pro
blem or not.
For anyone that might choose the use of their phone over having a real personal
relationship with another person there may be too much of an emotional attachmen
t to using your phone for everything.
If you are willing to sacrifice a relationship, whether it is a friend, family m
ember or a person you are in love with, just so you can keep using your phone as
you do, there is a problem existing.
12. Do you always need to have all of the latest app updates right away?
latest updates
If Tuesday is your favorite day of the week because many of the new updates for
applications are released on this day or you start a conversation with your frie
nds with Did you see the latest update for (fill in the blank)? It is so cool, the
n you are too concerned about using your phone.
There is nothing wrong with being happy an application is updated so it improves
, but looking forward to it more than anything else might be a bit much.
13. Do you take your phone into the bathroom with you?
phone bathroom
Most of the people that you talk to or text to may not want to know the answer t
o this question.
People who need to have their phones with them all the time will not think twice
about taking a phone into the bathroom with them, but you do have to question t
hat is what you are doing so important that you need to have it with you while y
ou are doing this? There are also some issues of hygiene that are going to come
up as well, with the potential for all kinds of germs getting on your phone.
14. Do you feel anxiety over losing your phone?
anxiety losing phone
To be honest, most people feel anxious when they may have lost their phones.
A smartphone is a big financial investment and the thought of losing it or someo
ne else using it can be troublesome on many levels, with privacy being chief amo
ng them.
However, if you are feeling deep anxiety over losing your phone because you are
not going to be able to use your phone until you get it back or get a replacemen
t, that could be a sign of a different problem for you.
15. Would you answer your phone in the middle of an important meeting?
phone meeting
Something like this may happen to everyone at some point.
You thought you had silenced your phone and it goes off, ringing or making a noi
se to indicate you received a message or some type of notification.
While it can embarrassing for you, it does happen and you can just reach for you
r phone and shut it off.
If you reach for the phone, check it and then decide to answer the phone in some
way by taking the time to send a message or answer the ring, you may have to qu
estion what you are doing.
At the very least, the persons in the meeting with you will question your motiva
tions for work.
16. Do you call or text someone in the same house as you?
calling same house
Are you sending messages to your parent in the kitchen, asking when dinner will
be ready or if they could bring a snack to you? Is your spouse sitting on the co
uch next to you and you are sending them messages instead of actually talking? A
lot of people do this and it might seem cute or funny the first time you do it,
but when it starts to turn into a regular occurrence people are going to ask wh
at the problem is with you.
17. Do you spend more money on your phone than anything else?
expensive phone
Spending money on your smartphone may not be a bad thing since you do have to pa
y for the right type of plan for your phone, but if you find yourself paying ext
ra money each month for going over your usage limits, buying new applications al
l the time or getting the latest accessories for your phone and do not have mone
y left over to pay other important bills you need to take a look at your habits
and see what you are doing that can be changed.
18. Do you use your phone when there are other productive things to do?
procrastinate phone
Are there times when you are at work and you should be working on a project but
instead you are spending time checking status updates? Maybe you have chores to
do at home or homework that needs to be finished but are checking out YouTube vi
deos instead.
Everyone can be guilty of this sometimes but when it happens to you all of the t
ime you have to question it.
19. Do you lose track of time using your phone?
losing track time

One minute you are using your phone to chat with a friend or look at Facebook an
d the next thing that happens is you look at the time and see it is 2 AM and fou
r hours have passed and you do not know where they went.
When this is happening all of the time to you is when you notice a problem devel
oping.
20. Has the time you use your phone increased?
time spent phone
Perhaps when you first started using your phone it was just to make calls and ch
eck social media.
Now you find yourself surfing the Internet, watching movies, texting with friend
s, looking up recipes, playing games and more all of the time.
Your time has gone from minutes to hours and keeps going up all of the time.
21. Do you use your phone in the middle of the night?
phone middle night
Where once you got up in the middle of the night just to use the bathroom, walk
the dog or turn off the light you left on, now you figure as long as you are up
you might as well check your phone and see what is going on in the world, see wh
o is awake or get in that last game for no reason other than you want to do it.
22. Do you have your phone when you are eating?
phone while eating
This may be the pet peeve of every parent out there today and many make rules ag
ainst it, but there are just as many adults that eat their meals today with thei
r faces buried in their smartphones.
It can seem very rude and detached to the others that may be eating with you, bu
t if you keep doing it anyway you may have an addiction problem.
23. Do you have to check your phone as soon as it makes a noise?
phone noise
It may not even need to be your phone ringing for you to check it
Your phone can make noises for all kinds of notifications and most of them are f
ar from critical or important, but you may have the need to look right away and
see what it was that you are being alerted to, no matter how insignificant it ma
y actually be.
24. Do you check your phone even when nothing is happening?
check phone nothing happen
Okay, so you checked your phone, read your email, answered some texts, and maybe
took a quick look at Facebook and Twitter.
Two minutes later you are doing the exact same thing even though nothing has cha
nged with anything you looked at.

Two minutes later you are checking again.
It could be turning into a regular compulsion for you to do this.
25. Have you cried when you dropped your phone?
crying dropped phone
No one likes the idea of their phone breaking and it can be upsetting when somet
hing happens to it, but if you find yourself crying and weeping over your phone,
whether or not any real damage occurred or not, you have become too attached to
using your phone too often.
Answering yes to a few these questions may not indicate that you are a phone add
ict, but if you answered yes to a majority of them, or even all twenty-five of t
hem, then you may want to take a closer look at just what you are using your sma
rtphone for and realize that you may have an addiction problem so that you can t
ake some steps to try to get some of your old life back.
Read more at http://www.addictiontips.net/phone-addiction/phone-addict/
__________________________________________________
http://www.psychguides.com/guides/signs-and-symptoms-of-cell-phone-addiction/
The recent explosion of iPhones, Androids, and other smartphones has provided pe
ople with the ability to access the entirety of the Internet on-the-go and at an
y given moment. 90% of adults in America own a cell phone,1 and while this may n
ot be a problem for many people, some individuals develop an addiction to their
mobile devices.
90% of American adults own a cell phone.1
Cell phones are constantly being improved by expanding upon their functionalitie
s, which in turn increases the likelihood of overuse and addiction. According to
the PEW Research Center, 67% of smartphone owners have admitted to checking the
ir phone for calls or messages when their phone didnt vibrate or ring.1 This is o
ne major sign of cell phone dependence and should serve as a warning to cell pho
ne owners.
Signs and Symptoms of Cell Phone Addiction
Although cell phone addiction is not yet listed in the Diagnostic and Statistica
l Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), research has compared it to g
ambling addiction, which has clearer diagnostic criteria and is included in the
DSM-5.
At least 4 of the following signs and symptoms are thought to comprise criteria
for cell phone addiction, and the problematic cell phone overuse must cause sign
ificant harm in the individuals life:2,3
A need to use the cell phone more and more often in order to achieve the sam
e desired effect.
Persistent failed attempts to use cell phone less often.
Preoccupation with smartphone use.
Turns to cell phone when experiencing unwanted feelings such as anxiety or d
epression.
Excessive use characterized by loss of sense of time.
Has put a relationship or job at risk due to excessive cell phone use.
Tolerance.
Need for newest cell phone, more applications, or increased use.
Withdrawal, when cell phone or network is unreachable.
Anger.
Tension.
Depression.
Irritability.
Restlessness.
If you or a loved one displays these signs and symptoms of cell phone addiction,
help is readily available. Call the phone number above to speak with a treatmen
t specialist about various recovery options.
Physical Effects of Addiction
woman experiencing a headache Overuse of your cell phone or smartphone can resul
t in a number of different physical problems that may cause permanent damage or
be difficult to treat, including:
Digital eye strain.4
The pain and discomfort associated with viewing a digital screen for ove
r 2 hours.
Eyes begin to burn and itch.
Blurred vision.
Eye fatigue.
Digital Eye Strain can cause headaches.
Neck problems.
Also known as text neck, which refers to neck pain resulting from looking
down at cell phone or tablet for too long.5
Increased illnesses due to germs.6
1 in 6 cell phones has fecal matter on it.
E. coli bacteria, which can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, is foun
d on many phones.
Phones have been found to be contaminated with MRSA.
Causes painful abscesses.
Life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, blood
stream, heart valves, and lungs.
Car accidents.
Many people believe that they can multitask and use their phones while d
riving, but this causes significant impairment and puts the driver and others on
the road in danger.
Research has revealed that texting and driving can be just as dangerous
as drinking and driving.7
Male infertility.
Preliminary studies have revealed that cell phone radiation may decrease
sperm count, sperm motility and viability.8
Psychological Effects of Cell Phone Addiction
Sleep disturbances.9
Cell phone addiction has been linked to an increase in sleep disorders a
nd fatigue in users.
Using your cell phone before bed increases the likelihood of insomnia.
Bright light may decrease sleep quality.
Smartphone use could increase amount of time it takes to fall asleep
.
Light emitted from the cell phone may activate the brain.
Depression.10
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.10
Relationship problems.
Offline relationships may suffer as a result of neglect in favor of exce

ssive cell phone and social media use.11
Anxiety.
Research has found that college students who use their cell phones the m
ost are more likely to feel anxious during downtime.12
Am I Addicted to my Smartphone?
This self-assessment is not meant to officially diagnose you with cell phone add
iction. If you are concerned about your problematic behaviors, speak to your doc
tor or mental health professional about possible treatment.13
Do you find yourself spending more time on your smartphone than you realize?
Do you find yourself mindlessly passing time on a regular basis by staring a
t your smartphone even though there might be better or more productive things to
do?
Do you seem to lose track of time when on your cell phone?
Do you find yourself spending more time texting, tweeting, or emailing as op
posed to talking to real-time people?
Has the amount of time you spend on your cell phone been increasing?
Do you secretly wish you could be a little less wired or connected to your c
ell phone?
Do you sleep with your smartphone on or under your pillow or next to your be
d regularly?
Do you find yourself viewing and answering texts, tweets, and emails at all
hours of the day and night, even when it means interrupting other things you are
doing?
Do you text, email, tweet, or surf the internet while driving or doing other
similar activities that require your focused attention and concentration?
Do you feel your use of your cell phone actually decreases your productivity
at times?
Do you feel reluctant to be without your smartphone, even for a short time?
When you leave the house, you ALWAYS have your smartphone with you and you f
eel ill-at-ease or uncomfortable when you accidentally leave your smartphone in
the car or at home, or you have no service, or it is broken?
When you eat meals, is your cell phone always part of the table place settin
g?
When your phone rings, beeps, buzzes, do you feel an intense urge to check f
or texts, tweets, or emails, updates, etc.?
Do you find yourself mindlessly checking your phone many times a day even wh
en you know there is likely nothing new or important to see?
If you or a loved one is concerned about maladaptive behaviors and feelings asso
ciated with cell phone addiction, dont hesitate to call [phone] to learn more abo
ut the treatment options available to you.
References
Mobile Technology Fact Sheet. (2013, December 27). Retrieved November 30, 20
15, from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/mobile-technology-fact-sheet/
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (5th ed.). (20
13). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
Singh Bhatia, M. (2008). Cell Phone Dependence a new diagnostic entity. Delh
i Psychiatry Journal, 11(2), 123-124. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://m
edind.nic.in/daa/t08/i2/daat08i2p123.pdf
Digital Eye Strain Report 2015. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from ht
tp://www.thevisioncouncil.org/digital-eye-strain-report-2015
Hansraj, K. (2014). Assessment of Stresses in the Cervical Spine Caused by P
osture and Position of the Head. (25), 277-279. Retrieved November 30, 2015, fro
m http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25393825
Health Risks of Using Mobile Phones. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, fr
om http://source.southuniversity.edu/health-risks-of-using-mobile-phones-137310.
aspx
Dangers of Texting Whilst Driving. (2008). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from
http://www.trl.co.uk/case-studies/behaviour-dangers-of-texting-whilst-driving/
Deepinder, F., Makker, K., & Agarwal, A. (2007). Cell phones and male infert
ility: Dissecting the relationship. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 15(3), 266270. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti
cle/pii/S1472648310603380
Patel, R. (2015, June 17). Cell Phone use before bedtime might impact sleep,
and daytime tiredness. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from https://u.osu.edu/emot
ionalfitness/2015/06/17/cell-phone-use-before-bedtime-might-impact-sleep-and-day
time-tiredness/
Babadi-Akashe, Z., & Zamani, B. (2014). The Relationship between Mental Heal
th and Addiction to Mobile Phones among University Students of Shahrekord, Iran.
Addict Health, 6(3-4), 93-99.
Andreassen, C. (2015). Online Social Network Site Addiction: A Comprehensive
Review. Curr Addict Rep Current Addiction Reports, 2015(2), 175-184. doi:10.100
7/s40429-015-0056-9
Lepp, A., Li, J., Barkley, J., & Salehi-Esfahani, S. (2015). Exploring the r
elationships between college students cell phone use, personality and leisure. Co
mputers in Human Behavior, 43, 210-219. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http:/
/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563214005822
Greenfield, D. (2013). Smartphone Abuse Test. Retrieved November 30, 2015, f
rom http://virtual-addiction.com/new-smartphone-abuse-test-now-online/
__________________________________________________
http://medind.nic.in/daa/t08/i2/daat08i2p123.pdf
__________________________________________________
Cell Phone use before bedtime might impact sleep, and daytime tiredness
June 17 2015
By R. Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA-OSU CCS Psychiatrist
bedtime cell phone
Smartphone or cellphones are a useful tool and when used properly can have many
benefits.
Many students frequently use cell-phones and often very close to bedtime. Studen
ts may not know that cellphone use might impact their ability to sleep at night
and this might impact their daytime energy levels.
This study explored the relationship between cellphone use at bedtime and sleep.
Who was studied?
532 students aged 1839 were recruited from lectures or via e-mail (1).
Mean time of media use per night was 46.6 minutes.
What were the study results?
Mobile phone usage for playing/surfing/texting was positively associated with in
somnia.
Computer usage for playing/surfing/reading was positively associated with insomn
ia.
What do the results mean?
Computer or cellphone use in bed before bedtime may worsen your sleep.
How does screen time impact sleep?
There are various potential causes:
Media use might make it take longer to fall asleep (2).
Media use might mean less time spent sleeping, thus reducing sleep (3).
Bright light emitted by electronic devices might impact sleep quality (4).
Light exposure might be temporarily activating you (5-6).

Are you sleeping poorly? Are you tired during the day? Is screen time before bed
impacting your sleep? Will cutting down on screen time improve your sleep? How
do you know?
Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that
you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any
changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor dia
gnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims
no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury ca
used directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretati
on of the material presented.
References
1. Fossum IN, et al. The Association Between Use of Electronic Media in Bed Befo
re Going to Sleep and Insomnia Symptoms, Daytime Sleepiness, Morningness, and Ch
ronotype. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Volume 12, Issue 5, 2014, pages 343- 357. P
ublished online: 14 Jul 2014. DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2013.819468.
2. Higuchi, S., Motohashi, Y., Liu, Y., & Maeda, A. (2005). Effects of playing a
computer game using a bright display on presleep physiological variables, sleep
latency, slow wave sleep and REM sleep. Journal of Sleep Research, 14, 267273.
3. Van den Bulck, J. (2004). Television viewing, computer game playing, and Inte
rnet use and self-reported time to bed and time out of bed in secondary-school c
hildren. Sleep, 27, 101104.
4. Cain, N., & Gradisar, M. (2010). Electronic media use and sleep in school-age
d children and adolescents: A review. Sleep Medicine, 11, 735742.
5. Cajochen, C., et al. (2011). Evening exposure to a light-emitting diodes (LED
)-backlit computer screen affects circadian physiology and cognitive performance
. Journal of Applied Physiology, 110, 14321438.
6. Campbell, S. S., et al. (1995). Light treatment for sleep disorders: Consensu
s report. III. Alerting and activating effects. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 1
0, 129132.
https://u.osu.edu/emotionalfitness/2015/06/17/cell-phone-use-before-bedtime-migh
t-impact-sleep-and-daytime-tiredness/
The Ohio State University
__________________________________________________
by South University
May 10, 2013
Public concerns about the possible health effects of mobile phone usage receive
a lot of attention.
With so many people using cell phones, its easy to see why. The International Tel
ecommunication Union reported nearly 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions at the
end of 2011. Thats 86 out of every 100 people worldwide.
Medical researchers continue to examine any health risks associated with mobile
phone use. Research has focused on germs, traffic accidents, cancer, electromagn
etic radiation, and health effects such as changes in brain activity and sleep p
atterns.
There has been much debate surrounding the possible health effects of cell phone
use. People can avoid the health hazards by understanding what the risks are an
d how to avoid them.
Cell Phones and Germs
Mobile phones not only carry important data, but germs too. The average mobile p
hone user puts their phone in contact with several places where it can pick up g
erms.
In 2011, researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine at Qu
een Mary, University of London found that one in six cell phones is contaminated
with some sort of fecal matter, probably because their owners did not wash thei
r hands with soap after using the toilet. Some of the phones were found to harbo
r E. coli bacteria from fecal origin. If ingested into the body, E. coli can cau
se fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Recently, students in an Environmental Health course at South University, Columb
ia sought to find out what germs live on cell phones. Swabbing a sample of 60 ph
ones belonging to students, they found that phones were frequently contaminated
with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Staph aureus is always dangerous and MRSA forms are worse because they cannot be
stopped easily, says Dr. Robert J. Wolff, PhD, program director of Health Science
at South University, Columbia, who teaches the class.
Staph skin infections, including MRSA, can quickly turn into deep, painful absce
sses. The bacteria might remain confined to the skin, or burrow deeper into the
body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical
wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves, and lungs.
Pedestrians using cell phones are just as dangerous as drivers using them.
Basically if your hands are very dirty, then your phone tends to also be very co
ntaminated with the same type of bacteria. So, people are advised to wash their
hands with soap and water. They can also use a hand sanitizer, and importantly,
clean their mobile phones often using cloths and wipes that are safe to use on d
evices.
A fairly dry towel can brush off many of the germs, Wolff says. The towel does not
need to be very wet, which can be harmful to the device.
Cell Phones and Traffic Hazards
People also put themselves in potentially hazardous situations with their phones
in hand. Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared the pe
rcentage of distracted drivers in the United States and seven European countries
. According to the study, 69% of drivers in the United States ages 18-64 reporte
d that they had talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days befo
re they were surveyed. In Europe, this percentage ranged from 21% in the United
Kingdom to 59% in Portugal.
Meanwhile, 31% of U.S. drivers ages 18-64 reported that they had read or sent te
xt messages or email messages while driving at least once within the 30 days bef
ore they were surveyed. In Europe, this percentage ranged from 15% in Spain to 3
1% in Portugal.
In addition to providing a comparison between those activities in the U.S. and E
urope, the study gives insight into the prevalence of self-reported mobile devic
e use while driving.
Activities such as texting take the drivers attention and hands away from driving
more frequently and for longer periods than other distractions, making it dange
rous. Younger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 may be at a higher risk
; they have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

But its not just drivers causing dangerous situations on the roadways.
Pedestrians using cell phones are just as dangerous as drivers using them, Wolff s
ays.
A study published in Injury Prevention last year says that one in three pedestri
ans is distracted by a mobile device while crossing busy streets. This type of d
istraction could lead to accidents that injure the pedestrian and/or drivers.
Traffic accidents are preventable. By simply putting their phone away while driv
ing or crossing the street, drivers and pedestrians can prevent accidents. They
should wait until they are stationary before making a phone call, sending a text
message, or sending an email.
Cell Phones and Eye Health
Small text and bright screens can strain mobile phone users eyes. Since tablet co
mputers, smartphones, and other hand-held devices are designed for reading at cl
ose range, users eyes must constantly refocus and reposition to process the graph
ics and text on screen.
According to The Vision Council, more than a third of U.S. adults reported spend
ing four to six hours a day with digital media or related electronic devices. As
digital use increases, so do potential vision problems, including eye strain. S
ymptoms of digital eye strain include eye redness or irritation, dry eyes, blurr
ed vision, back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Some of the ways to prevent digital eye strain include reducing glare, cleaning
the screen, dimming the surrounding lighting that is competing with the devices s
creen, keeping adequate distance between eyes and the screen, and increasing tex
t size. Device users are also advised to take breaks from looking at the screen,
and follow the 20-20-20 rule: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes using an el
ectronic device and look at something 20 feet away.
https://www.southuniversity.edu/whoweare/newsroom/blog/health-risks-of-using-mob
ile-phones-137310
__________________________________________________
16 Seriously Damaging Side Effects Of Your Smartphone Addiction
December 1, 2015 by Jayne Leonard
Can We Send You Our Free Special Report: "100 Ways To Use Essential Oils To Chan
ge Your Life"?
16 Seriously Damaging Side Effects Of Your Smartphone Addiction
Nearly two thirds of American adults now own a smartphone up from 58% in early 2
014. In fact, 61% of you reading this page right now are probably doing so on a
smartphone.
Their popularity is not surprising! Smartphones are incredible little devices th
ey allow us to stay connected, organized and entertained. They can track what we
eat, our exercise goals and our sleep patterns. They log our shopping lists, ou
r travel details and our spending habits.
These mini computers have eliminated our need for alarm clocks, address books, n
otepads and cameras.
But do their perks come with a downside?
It would seem they come with several disadvantages. Read on to find out exactly
what those are.
A Serious Addiction
Despite what some may think, smartphone addiction is a very real phenomenon.
It has been found that female college students spend an average of ten hours a d
ay on their cellphones, surfing the internet and sending 100+ messages. Thats mor
e time than spent with friends.
Another survey found that three out of five US smartphone users cant go more than
60 minutes without checking their phones.
So what makes us so eager to play with our phones instead of engaging in real li
fe?
Experts say our brains get a hit of dopamine and serotonin the chemicals linked
to happiness when our phones beep or ring. These are the same chemicals that giv
e drug users their high!
We arent oblivious to our very real problem either a recent opinion poll shows th
at 82% of the American public believe that smartphone addiction exists.
In fact, nomophobia (the fear of being without your mobile device) is now recogn
ized as a serious issue with rehab facilities available to help you deal with yo
ur problem!
Withdrawal Is Painful
Just like with other addictive substances, withdrawal can be long and painful an
d come with complications.
A 2011 study called The World Unplugged surveyed almost 1,000 University students
in 10 different countries.
The students were asked to avoid cellphones, laptops and social networking for 2
4 hours.
A clear majority suffered significant mental and physical distress, panic, confusi
on and extreme isolation during the withdrawal period, with most students failin
g to go the full day without their fix.
Back Problems
Are you constantly hunched over your phone, engrossed in your Facebook feed? You
could be putting your back under pressure if you are!
The British Chiropractic Association say that the number of young people with ba
ck problems has risen dramatically over the last number of years, thanks to smar
tphone use.
According to 2015 statistics, 45% of young people aged 16 to 24 now suffer from
back pain as their spinal disks are put under pressure. Thats a 60% rise from 201
4!
This pain isnt just occasional either, with 25% of those young people suffering o
n a daily basis.
But its small wonder that texting can cause such paina 2014 study, published in Su
rgical Technology International, found that texting can add up to 50 pounds of p
ressure on a persons spine, depending on the angle at which the person is texting
.
Thats a similar weight to a seven year old child!
Nerve Damage
Smartphones dont just affect your health on a day-to-day basis they may also caus
e long term, incurable side effects.
Like occipital neuralgia a neurological condition where the nerves that run from
the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp become compressed or inflamed.
This condition causes symptoms similar to those youd experience with a severe hea
dache or migraine.
One journalist diagnosed with the condition described it as like being hit over t
he head with a rod of steel sending bolts of pain through his skull.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for occipital neuralgia only treatments to manag
e the pain which include steroid and numbing injections, yoga, massage and layin
g off the smartphone usage!
Anxiety & Depression
Spending so much time staring at a screen can lead to anxiety and even depressio
n as people expect constant updates and interaction from friends, and worry when
these arent received.
For every minute youre playing Candy Crush, youre missing out on a minute of exerc
ise, of cooking healthy meals, of walking the dog and of real-life human interac
tion all of which are important for good mental health.
A study from Northwestern University revealed that the more time people spend on
their phones, the more likely they are to be depressed.
The average daily use for a depressed person was 68 minutes, compared to just 17
minutes for someone who has better mental health.
Stress
Having a smartphone means were always available to take calls, text messages, insta
nt messages, social media notifications and emails. The workday no longer finish
es at 6pm as emails continue to push through late into the night.
But research from 2012 has found that the need to immediately read and respond t
o every one of these incoming alerts is causing rising stress levels.
The study, which looked at 100 university students, retail workers and public-se
ctor employees, found that the stress gets so bad for some, that they actually b
egin to experience phantom vibrations, thinking their phone is buzzing when it i
snt!
Weight Management & Fitness Levels
Have you ever got lost in the virtual escape your smartphone provides, only to r
eturn to reality minutes or even hours later?
This is precisely why were spending less and less time exercising once weve fit in
our daily dose of phone use, theres no time!
In one study, researchers surveyed over 300 college students about their cellpho
ne use, leisure activities and physical activity.
49 of the students were then asked to use a treadmill test to evaluate their hea
rt and lung fitness.
Unsurprisingly, those who spent up to 14 hours daily on their phones were less f
it than participants who only averaged about 1.5 hours of use.
Disrupted Sleep
63% of smartphone users age 18 to 29 fall asleep with a cellphone, smartphone or
tablet in their bed, says a 2013 survey.
Around 30% of users aged 30 to 64 do the same thing.
Whats really worrying is that, according to a study published in September 2015,
the amount of caffeine in a double espresso has less of an effect on sleep sched
ule than bright light exposure at night!
While most of us wouldnt bring a double espresso to bed, we happily bring our pho
nes.
The light exposure can actually push back sleep time twice as long as coffee doe
s, thanks to its ability to suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps with slee
p timing.
When Harvard researchers looked at the effect of 6.5 hours of exposure to blue l
ight, and to green light, they found that the blue light suppressed melatonin fo
r twice as long as the green did.
The blue also shifted sleep schedules by three hours, compared to an hour and a
half for the green light.
A Source of Bacteria
Disturbing research from the University of Arizona has discovered that the avera
ge phone has 10 times the amount of bacteria that is found on a toilet seat!
While you might clean your toilet regularly, its likely your phone is given a goo
d wipe down far less often. And no matter how clean your toilet seat, youre proba
bly not going to let it touch your face!
Next time, be careful where you leave your phone, and wipe it regularly.
Attention Span
It turns out that most of us now have an attention span less than that of a gold
fish.
Could our smartphone addiction be at fault?
Thats exactly what research from Microsoft claims. Its not surprising really, espe
cially when you consider that most of our news is now condensed into 140 charact
ers or less.
On the upside, the researchers claim that cellphones have increased our ability
to multitask.
But, others studies contest this, stating that simply talking or texting can be
distracting and contributes to diminished performance when multitasking.
In fact, simply the presence of a cell phone is said to be distracting, especial
ly when in social settings.
Social Effects
Instead of making us more connected, our smartphones could be making us more iso
lated.
Not only are we more distracted and less present in social scenarios thanks to our
cellphones, were also becoming less connected to our peers on a deeper level.
Researchers from the University of Essex found that people who discussed persona
lly meaningful topics when a cellphone was nearby (even if they werent being used
) reported lower relationship quality and less trust in their partner.
They also felt their partner was less empathic to their concerns.
Smartphone use is also likely to make us more selfish, and less likely to engage
in prosocial behavior, says University of Maryland research.
Prosocial behavior is defined as an action intended to benefit another person or
society as a whole like volunteering or simply helping out someone in need.
Text Claw
Text claw isnt a medical term (yet) but its symptoms are very real. Sufferers exp
erience cramped fingers, wrist pain and muscle pain thanks to continuous texting
and scrolling on the touchscreen of a smartphone.
This occurs because of inflammation in the tendons. It can also exacerbate exist
ing inflammation from tendinitis.
If it happens to you, take a break from the cellphone, ice the area regularly, t
ry some wrist exercises and flavor your food with these pain-killing herbs and s
pices, many of which will work to reduce the inflammation.
Indirect Injuries
Aside from the injuries directly caused by your phone like occipital neuralgia o
r carpal tunnel syndrome a cellphone addiction can increase your risk of indirec
t injuries, like from a nasty fall or car crash!
While hand-held cellphone use while driving is banned in some states, hands-free
isnt.
Yet Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that drivers who are listening
to someone talk on their phone have 37% reduced brain activity. They say that ma
king devices hands-free or voice-activated is not sufficient to eliminate distra
ctions while driving.
Even pedestrians are at increased risk of causing accidents.
A University of Washington study reports that texting pedestrians took 1.87 extr
a seconds to cross an average intersection and were four times more likely to ig
nore the lights or forget to look for traffic before crossing.
Scary stuff!
Eyesight
Direct exposure to blue light like the one that comes from cellphone screens can
cause damage to the retina of the eye.
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation warns that retinal damage of this n
ature may lead to macular degeneration, which causes the loss of central vision
(the ability to see whats in front of you).
In the research however, the blue light was placed directly in front of the eye
which isnt exactly how cellphones are used. However, long term effects of blue li
ght exposure are not known.
One survey of 2,000 people found that 55% of respondents believe that eye discom
fort is the main problem inflicted on them by their phones.
To save your eyes, limit the amount of time on your phone and follow the 20-20-2
0 rule every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to focus on something 20 feet away. Chec
k out these vision-saving foods too!
Hearing
Simply chatting to someone on the phone wont damage your hearing, but if you use
your smartphone and headphones for listening to music then you might have cause
for concern.
According to the National Institute on Deafness, around 26 million Americans suf
fer from noise-induced hearing loss.
One source of such noise is from headphones, like the ones that come with your p
hone.
If we listen to music that is too loud, we can damage the tiny hairs in the inne
r ear, which transmit chemical signals through nerves to the brain.
What level is too loud?
The Dangerous Decibels public health campaign states that repeated exposure to n
oises above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss approximately the noise level of
heavy traffic.
The maximum volume of a smartphone is around 105 decibels or that of a concert.
Listening to music at this volume for more than four minutes would likely result
in damage to hearing.
Even if you lower it to just 94 decibels, you can cause damage if you listen for
over an hour.
Radiation
While its not clear if the radiation from cellphones and other connected devices
causes health issues, a group of 200 biological and health scientists from aroun
d the world are trying to raise public awareness on this issue.
They are calling on the United Nations, World Health Organization and national g
overnments to develop strict regulations concerning cellphones that create elect
romagnetic fields.
The World Health Organization already classes cellphones as possibly carcinogenic
to humans and the organization will conduct a formal risk assessment of all stud
ied health outcomes from radio-frequency field exposure by 2016.
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/16-seriously-damaging-side-effects-of-your-sma
rtphone-addiction/
__________________________________________________
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/
Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phones
Fact sheet N193

Reviewed October 2014
Key facts
Mobile phone use is ubiquitous with an estimated 6.9 billion subscriptions g
lobally.
The electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones are classified by the I
nternational Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Studies are ongoing to more fully assess potential long-term effects of mobi
le phone use.
WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes fro
m radiofrequency fields exposure by 2016.
Mobile or cellular phones are now an integral part of modern telecommunications.
In many countries, over half the population use mobile phones and the market is
growing rapidly. In 2014, there is an estimated 6.9 billion subscriptions globa
lly. In some parts of the world, mobile phones are the most reliable or the only
phones available.
Given the large number of mobile phone users, it is important to investigate, un
derstand and monitor any potential public health impact.
Mobile phones communicate by transmitting radio waves through a network of fixed
antennas called base stations. Radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic fields,
and unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays, can neither break c
hemical bonds nor cause ionization in the human body.
Exposure levels
Mobile phones are low-powered radiofrequency transmitters, operating at frequenc
ies between 450 and 2700 MHz with peak powers in the range of 0.1 to 2 watts. Th
e handset only transmits power when it is turned on. The power (and hence the ra
diofrequency exposure to a user) falls off rapidly with increasing distance from
the handset. A person using a mobile phone 3040 cm away from their body for exam
ple when text messaging, accessing the Internet, or using a hands free device will
therefore have a much lower exposure to radiofrequency fields than someone hold
ing the handset against their head.
In addition to using "hands-free" devices, which keep mobile phones away from th
e head and body during phone calls, exposure is also reduced by limiting the num
ber and length of calls. Using the phone in areas of good reception also decreas
es exposure as it allows the phone to transmit at reduced power. The use of comm
ercial devices for reducing radiofrequency field exposure has not been shown to
be effective.
Mobile phones are often prohibited in hospitals and on airplanes, as the radiofr
equency signals may interfere with certain electro-medical devices and navigatio
n systems.
Are there any health effects?
A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to asses
s whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health
effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.
Short-term effects
Tissue heating is the principal mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency
energy and the human body. At the frequencies used by mobile phones, most of the
energy is absorbed by the skin and other superficial tissues, resulting in negl
igible temperature rise in the brain or any other organs of the body.
A number of studies have investigated the effects of radiofrequency fields on br
ain electrical activity, cognitive function, sleep, heart rate and blood pressur
e in volunteers. To date, research does not suggest any consistent evidence of a
dverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields at levels below tho
se that cause tissue heating. Further, research has not been able to provide sup
port for a causal relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and se
lf-reported symptoms, or electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Long-term effects
Epidemiological research examining potential long-term risks from radiofrequency
exposure has mostly looked for an association between brain tumours and mobile
phone use. However, because many cancers are not detectable until many years aft
er the interactions that led to the tumour, and since mobile phones were not wid
ely used until the early 1990s, epidemiological studies at present can only asse
ss those cancers that become evident within shorter time periods. However, resul
ts of animal studies consistently show no increased cancer risk for long-term ex
posure to radiofrequency fields.
Several large multinational epidemiological studies have been completed or are o
ngoing, including case-control studies and prospective cohort studies examining
a number of health endpoints in adults. The largest retrospective case-control s
tudy to date on adults, Interphone, coordinated by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC), was designed to determine whether there are links bet
ween use of mobile phones and head and neck cancers in adults.
The international pooled analysis of data gathered from 13 participating countri
es found no increased risk of glioma or meningioma with mobile phone use of more
than 10 years. There are some indications of an increased risk of glioma for th
ose who reported the highest 10% of cumulative hours of cell phone use, although
there was no consistent trend of increasing risk with greater duration of use.
The researchers concluded that biases and errors limit the strength of these con
clusions and prevent a causal interpretation.
Based largely on these data, IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic
fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), a category used when a cau
sal association is considered credible, but when chance, bias or confounding can
not be ruled out with reasonable confidence.
While an increased risk of brain tumors is not established, the increasing use o
f mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile phone use over time periods long
er than 15 years warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain cancer r
isk. In particular, with the recent popularity of mobile phone use among younger
people, and therefore a potentially longer lifetime of exposure, WHO has promot
ed further research on this group. Several studies investigating potential healt
h effects in children and adolescents are underway.
Exposure limit guidelines
Radiofrequency exposure limits for mobile phone users are given in terms of Spec
ific Absorption Rate (SAR) the rate of radiofrequency energy absorption per unit
mass of the body. Currently, two international bodies 1, 2 have developed expos
ure guidelines for workers and for the general public, except patients undergoin
g medical diagnosis or treatment. These guidelines are based on a detailed asses
sment of the available scientific evidence.
WHO S response
In response to public and governmental concern, WHO established the Internationa
l Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project in 1996 to assess the scientific evidence
of possible adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. WHO will conduc
t a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radiofrequency fi
elds exposure by 2016. In addition, and as noted above, the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO specialized agency, has reviewed the carci
nogenic potential of radiofrequency fields, as from mobile phones in May 2011.

WHO also identifies and promotes research priorities for radiofrequency fields a
nd health to fill gaps in knowledge through its research agendas.
WHO develops public information materials and promotes dialogue among scientists
, governments, industry and the public to raise the level of understanding about
potential adverse health risks of mobile phones.
1 International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Statem
ent on the "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic
and electromagetic fields (up to 300 GHz)", 2009.
2 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE standard for sa
fety levels with respect to human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fi
elds, 3 kHz to 300 GHz, IEEE Std C95.1, 2005.
__________________________________________________
https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/2416_VC_2016EyeStrain_Repor
t_WEB.pdf
__________________________________________________
The Vision Council Touts the Latest Lens Technology to Combat Digital Eye Strain
at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show
Nearly 80% of Americans with digital eye strain use multiple screens.
Alexandria, VA (January 6, 2016) With more than 3,600 exhibitors and 150,000 att
endees gathering for the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), The
Vision Council is on hand at the world s largest gathering place for the busine
ss of consumer technologies to help users protect their eyes from digital eye st
rain.
The Vision Council s latest report examining the impact of digital media on visi
on health, Eyes Overexposed: Digital Device Dilemma, was released today at CES i
n Las Vegas. Findings of the report show that one in 10 people spend at least th
ree-fourths of their waking hours on a digital device, and that prolonged period
s of use appear to exacerbate symptoms as 96 percent of Americans who experience
digital eye strain spend two or more hours each day using devices.
In an effort to educate avid digital device users, The Vision Council is connect
ing with CES attendees about the benefits of computer glasses and coatings, demo
nstrating the latest in computer eyewear technology and teaching additional ways
for individuals to minimize digital eye strain.
"When using technology, many people think suffering with digital eye strain is u
navoidable, but it doesn t have to be," said Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Counc
il. "The optical industry has responded to the shift in digital habits and has d
eveloped lens technology to protect eyes from blue light, glare and other enviro
nmental stressors."
Show attendees and members of the media stopping by The Vision Council s booth (
#74853) are invited to explore how computer eyewear can be used to reduce blurri
ness and pixilation, decrease brightness, block blue light, and minimize glare w
hile working in front of a screenor multiple screens. The booth features medical
and lens experts, various computer eyewear technology, and advanced findings fro
m The Vision Council s digital eye strain report.
The Vision Council is working to education eye care providers on the usage and r
ecommendation of computer eyewear and other lens coatings in the prevention of d
igital eye strain through educational sessions at Vision Expo East. Courses incl
ude Blue Light and Digital Eye Strain - Educating Patients and Providing Solutio
ns (2201), Understanding and Recommending Office, Anti-Fatigue and Close Environ
ment Lenses (1201), and How To Determine the Right Tints and Coatings for a Pati
ent (2101). The full course listing can be found at VisionExpoEast.com.
The Vision Council s report finds that 90% of patients do not talk with their ey
e care provider about digital device usage. The Vision Council encourages eye ca
re providers to engage their patients in discussions about healthy vision mainte
nance, including the impact of their daily electronic device use and the digital
eye strain symptoms to monitor for, as well as eyewear options that can reduce
symptoms in the future. To view or download a copy of the report, visit The Visi
on Council online at www.thevisioncouncil.org/des.
About The Vision Council
Championing better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its mem
bers for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through educati
on, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and i
ndustry forums. By sharing the latest in eyewear trends, advances in technology
and advice from eyewear experts, The Vision Council serves as a resource to the
public looking to learn more about options in eyeglasses and sunglasses.
The Vision Council is exhibiting at CES in the Family Tech Zone. Find us in CES
Tech West at The Sands in the Venetian at booth 74853.
https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/blog/vision-council-touts-latest-lens-technolog
y-combat-digital-eye-strain-2016-international
__________________________________________________
http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/30/the-best-and-worst-of-mobile-connectivity/
__________________________________________________
http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/25/cell-phone-activities-2012/
__________________________________________________
http://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/08/12/10/young-pinoys-inseparable-cellphones-s
urvey
Young Pinoys inseparable from cellphones: survey
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 12 2010 06:06 PM | Updated as of Aug 13 2010 02:07 AM
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MANILA, Philippines - Mobile phones are considered a must-have among young Filip
inos, with product ownership in the country at 67%, according to a survey recent
ly conducted by global research agency Synovate.
One out of 4 of them, it said, can t live without the said gadget.
Christelle, 11, is among the many Filipino youth who can t seem to let go of the
ir mobile phones. Of the P40 allowance she gets each day, Christelle said she sp
ends P20 on prepaid credit to catch up with her relatives and friends.
Carole Ann Sarthou, managing director of Synovate Philippines, said this is not
a surprise especially after the country was dubbed as the "texting capital of th
e world" for its excessive use of short message services (SMS).
"Ang mga Pinoy kasi sociable at always in touch with friends (Filipinos are very
sociable and are always in touch with friends)," Sarthou told ABS-CBN News.
They are not just inseparable from their mobile phones -- young Filipinos get in
touch with a lot of people, too.
The survey showed that a typical Filipino youth has 102 contacts, way above the
average of 77.
They have the third highest number of contacts on their mobile phones, closely f
ollowing youth from Singapore (108) and Indonesia (131).
Titled 2010 Young Asians Survey, the study examined the habits of youth across A
sia. Respondents ranged from 8 to 24 years old across 11 markets including the P
hilippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Ind
ia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Last year, a similar study by Synovate showed that young Filipinos liked using t
heir mobile phones to play games, listen to music, watch videos and surf the Int
ernet. -- Report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News
__________________________________________________
More Filipinos use cellphones as mobile computers : study
(philstar.com) | Updated July 2, 2013 - 11:00pm
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Filipinos are using their mobile phones not only
to communicate but also as mobile computers as well, according to a recent mark
et study issued Tuesday.
TNS, a global customized research company, said in its report that Filipino cons
umers are not just using cell phones to call and texting messages and photos, bu
t also as a means to have "internet- on-the-go," allowing users to be always onl
ine.
Of the 38,000 respondents in Metro Manila, 75 percent of the respondents surveye
d used mobile phones to take photos or videos; 45 percent to browse the internet
; 44 percent to access their social networking sites; and 37 percent to check th
eir emails. The study was conducted from November 2012 to January 2013.
"Based on the findings of the study, the increase in various mobile activities e
xplain the growing trend of Wi-Fi accessibility in public areas," said TNS Phili
ppines Managing Director Gary de Ocampo.
Close Ad X
About 35 percent of Metro Manila respondents connect to the internet via Wi-Fi a
ccess in public areas in 2013.
The study also showed that Filipino consumers changed their purchasing prioritie
s from buying phones based on physical features to choosing a phone that will e
nhance personal experience.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Smartphone usage in the Philippine is now at 53 percent compared to overall mobi
le phone usage of 89 percent.

The study identified five growth potential for increase mobile usage video call
ing, Wi-Fi at home, watching live TV shows, blogging and streaming video like Yo
u Tube.
The sale of smartphone in the Philippine market is seen to increase significantl
y in the next few years as prices go down.
The TNS study also revealed that most Filipinos living in Metro Manila own "mult
iple screens" or more than just one device.
A typical household owns at least four of the following devices : a mobile phone
(89 percent), smartphone (53 percent), tablet (14 percent), desktop (39 percent
), laptop/netbooks (37 percent) and smart TV (4 percent.)
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/02/961059/more-filipinos-use-cellphone
s-mobile-computers-study
__________________________________________________
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Philippines
December 14, 2016
Carpal Tunnel Info
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease that is occurring increasingly global. Since
the last few months the vast majority of people who are interested and looking
for information on this issue are from the Philippines.
Philippines has become the 12th most populous nation, with a population of over
94 million. On the other hand the economy of the Philippines is the 46th largest
in the world and the main exports include semiconductors and electronic product
s: notebooks, smartphones, etc, transport equipment, clothing, copper products,
petroleum products and others.
As the Philippines is a newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy hap
pened to be based on agriculture to focus on services and manufacturing. The ind
ustrial sector employs around 13.7% of the working population of the Philippines
, and is growing. One of the best opportunities for growth that are occurring in
the country are tourism and Business Process Outsourcing. The outsourcing makes
that many multinational companies develop their business processes in Philippin
es, which involves mainly manufactures and a lot of repetitive work for Philippi
nes.
Likewise Philippines has a sophisticated mobile phone industry and a high concen
tration of users. In 2008, there were nearly 68 million mobile phone subscribers
in the Philippines. Text messaging is a popular form of communication and has f
ostered a culture of quick greetings and forwarded jokes among Philippines. In 2
007, the people of the Philippines sent an average of one billion SMS messages p
er day. Apart from the increasing number of text message senders, over five mill
ion of them use their phone as a virtual wallet, making the country a leader amo
ng developing nations in providing financial services through mobile networks.
Carpal Tunnel syndrome and Philippines texting
Carpal Tunnel syndrome and Philippines texting

As we mentioned in other articles overuse of cellphones and smarthpones devices
may cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, like repetitive activities carrie
d out manually by manufacturing and outsourcing services that use computer servi
ces, where the keyboard, mouse and postures can compromise the hands, wrists and
spine.
To further explore the issue of ergonometric accesories, ergonometric keyboards
and ergonometric mouses we recommend visiting our specialized carpal tunnel shop
at: shop.carpaltunnelsyndorme101.com.
Given the economic growth of Philippines carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition t
hat is growing in the population of that country, as well as other conditions in
volving the hands and wrists (Read about other hands and wrist injuries: Repetit
ive Strain Injury, Tendonitis, Arthritis, and more ).
It is because of these reasons that we encourage people of Philippines to read a
ll articles in this site in order to conquer the carpal tunnel syndrome and redu
ce and relief pain in their hands and wrists.
In particular we suggest to read this guide: Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
This Carpal Tunnel Syndrome guide is very complete and very clearly outlines eve
rything related to this disease, what are the major symptoms, how to prevent thi
s disease and nonsurgical methods that can be performed to conquer this problem.
http://www.carpaltunnelsyndrome101.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-in-philippines/
__________________________________________________
By The Manila Times
Tweet
on May 5, 2015 Op-Ed Columns
EXCESSIVE use of mobile phones causes students to fare poorly in elementary, jun
ior high and high school, not only because it makes them lose their concentratio
n due to a lack of sleep, but also because it apparently compromises what they h
ave studied, researchers say.
Students who spend several hours each day staring into mobile phones or smartpho
nes tend to change their sleeping habits and stay up late to use the devices, ed
ucation ministry research published last week showed.
The research was conducted last November with 23,139 participants from the fifth
grade of primary school up to the third year of high school, at 771 public scho
ols nationwide.
It showed, for instance, that 53.5 percent of junior high students who said they
use a mobile phone for more than four hours a day to talk, send email or surf t
he Net, habitually do not get to sleep until after midnight. That ratio was much
lower, at 14.9 percent, for those who dont use mobile phones at all.
The research also found that overusing mobile phones affects the quality of stud
ents sleep.
Asked if they find it hard to get up in the morning, 78.1 percent of junior high
respondents who often watch or use electronic devices, including TVs, game cons
oles, mobile phones and computers, immediately before bedtime said they sometime
s or frequently do have trouble the next morning. That compared with 60.9 percen
t among those who dont use gadgets at all.
This lack of sleep also affects school performance, said Junichi Sato, an educat
ion board official who led the project, which was jointly carried out by the cit
y of Sendai and Tohoku University.
The research, published in March, looked into the correlation between studying e
nthusiasm and smartphone usage. It found that using a mobile phone for an extend
ed time even affects students who habitually study a lot.
That implies a lack of sleep or reduced study time as a result of mobile phone u
sage is not the only way these devices affect performance at school.
The study revealed that students who spent over two hours every day both studyin
g and using messaging apps, especially the popular Line, scored worse on a math
exam than those who spent less than 30 minutes a day studying but didnt use a sma
rtphone at all.
When people talk about children using smartphones in a negative sense, their main
concern seems to be about their criminal use, but this study calls the attentio
n of parents and students to the risk that excessive use of smartphones can comp
romise students effort to study, Sato said.
Sato advises the use of smartphones and other mobile devices be limited to just
an hour a day.
2015 THE JAPAN TIMES (TOKYO) / DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
http://www.manilatimes.net/overuse-of-mobile-gadgets-hampers-students-ability-to
-study-and-sleep/181132/
__________________________________________________
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/other/unpan024834.pdf
__________________________________________________
https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/ni/futuremobile/socialaspects/IndiaMacroMobileYouthS
tudy04.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.langaa-rpcig.net/IMG/pdf/Ellwood-Clayton_All_we_need_is_loev_and_a_mo
bile_phone_texting_in_the_Philippines.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://www.adulterc.org/proceedings/2011/papers/yeshi_aagard.pdf
__________________________________________________
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.458.2196&rep=rep1&type=
pdf
__________________________________________________
http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/pmr/article/view/3592/3308
__________________________________________________
http://www.aldersgate-college.com/research/arts-sciences-education/text-messagin
g-its-impact-on-the-spelling-proficiency-of-the-first-year-students-of-aldersgat
e-science-high-school/
__________________________________________________
The Philippine text messaging phenomenon
HINDSIGHT By HINDSIGHT by Josefina T. Lichauco | Updated May 15, 2001 - 12:00am
image lif2.jpg" border=0 align="left">(I am pleased to surrender my column space
to my only daughter Michelle Lichauco. I have just found out that a very recent
paper she submitted at Harvard assesses the impact of text messaging on the Fil
ipino psyche. It is herein being reproduced.)
It is the height of Manila traffic. The heat and smog outside are almost unbeara
ble. But inside air-conditioned cars, crowded buses and jeepneys, commuters sit
with their heads bowed. No, not in prayer or a moment of silence. Their hands ar
e clutching cellular phones and their nimble thumbs are typing away at tiny alph
anumeric keys, sending messages to friends, family, colleagues even mass messages
ng for the ouster of a president. In one car, a teenager may be typing sweet lov
e messages or secret notes to friends. In another, a mother may be frantically t
rying to get in touch with her daughters school to notify them she would be late in
ing up her child. In a restaurant, people sit at tables hardly talking to each o
ther but instead are engrossed typing out messages on their cell phones. Nonstop
beeping, an alert for incoming messages, sends a mad scramble for phones in poc
kets, backpacks, bags and briefcases. In malls, shoppers walk around with cell p
hones in hand, mastering the art of walking without looking ahead. Far away in t
he province, soldiers fighting insurgents in the mountains send messages to thei
r families reporting their safety.
This is the Philippines, the text messaging capital of the world, where SMS (Sho
rt Message Service) has given rise to a subculture with its own lingo, folklore
and etiquette. Fact is, in the Philippines, the words "I will call you" have bee
n replaced by "I will text you."
More than 30 million text messages are transmitted daily, twice as many as in al
l of Europe. The popularity of the medium is jacking up cell phone sales.
There are only over a million personal computers vis-a-vis the current populatio
n of 79 million Filipinos, according to the International Telecommunications Uni
on. The Philippine Internet Service Organization estimates that there are 400,00
0 Internet service subscribers in the Philippines. This includes a mixture of mu
lti-user accounts, use of pre-paid Internet access, Internet cafes, corporate fa
cilities, schools, etc. Total number of users in the Philippines has been estima
ted at around 2 million or 2.5 percent of the population as of 2000. (Source: ht
tp://www.digitalfilipino.com/)
Cellular mobile phone services began in the country only in 1991 and since then,
the rise in the number of subscribers has been remarkable. As against 2 million
Internet subscribers, there are 4.5 million mobile phone users in the Philippin
es, more than fixed line subscribers. (Source: http://www.nandotimes.com). As of
May 2000, the number of cellular phone subscribers in the Philippines far excee
ded the 3 million fixed line subscribers. (Source: National Telecommunications C
ommission, 2000). The wide popularity of wireless service is due to the spotty t
elephone service and the high costs of fixed line subscriptions. High installati
on charges and monthly fees for a telephone line have made fixed lines out of re
ach for most people and texting via cellular phone has become a more affordable
way to keep in touch. The Philippines has become by far the global capital of te
xt messaging, a feature of digital cell phones which has been ignored in many ot
her countries.
SMS has taken off dramatically in the Philippines because of the affordability o
f the service compared to expensive Internet access on the computer. With the in
troduction of pre-paid accounts with no monthly fees or need for credit history,
the service became even more affordable and accessible to people. Text messagin
g first appeared as a free feature of the mobile phone service and because Filip
inos love a bargain, it became a craze. And it became even hotter, even now that
the text messaging service is no longer free. But P1 per text message is still
very cheap.
The extraordinary popularity of text messaging in the Philippines has spawned a
subculture the media has dubbed Generation Txt. Teenagers and young upwardly mob
ile professionals have developed their own text language. To save on space (one
is allotted only 164 characters per text), texters have developed their own abbr
eviated vocabulary to express themselves complete with "emoticons," a combinatio
n of symbols and punctuations that add up (with a lot of imagination and head ti
lting) to little faces that characterize expressions of happiness, anguish, conf
usion, disgust, embarrassment, and a host of other emotions. Thus, if you wanted
to say, "Ill be late. Could you save a seat for me? Thank you," in text language,
would be, "ILBL8. :( C%d u sav a sit 4 me? THNQ! :)"
Ousting A President Through Text Messaging
Last January, Filipinos took text messaging to a different level when they ouste
d President Joseph Estrada. During the peaceful Edsa Revolution in 1986, cell ph
ones did not exist yet. The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was toppled by activi
sts using radio broadcasts, placards and fliers.
image images/lif2a.jpg" border=0 align="right">It was fascinating to watch Peopl

e Power 2 staged with the use of the powerful medium of text messaging. With pro
testers armed with powerful Internet mass mailings and Wed-linked mobile phones,
the pace of events that led to President Estradas ouster, preceded by an impeachme
ial in December, was incredible. Even before the impeachment trial, Estrada was
already on trial in the court of public opinion. There were over 200 websites de
dicated to the anti-Estrada campaign, ranging from lighthearted jokes and cartoo
ns to more serious stuff like a signature campaign demanding his resignation. Sn
ippets on Estradas lavish lifestyle, massive accumulation of wealth, his mistresses
the mansions he built for them, his all-night drinking sprees with cronies that
left him unable to govern were passed on through text messaging. Every cell phon
e became a transmitter. Fliers and underground newspapers were replaced by realtime information campaign that made the younger population more politically awar
e and more active in the campaign that eventually overthrew Estrada. The volume
of SMS jumped from 30 million messages a day to record levels of 70 million duri
ng the last days of the impeachment trial and EDSA 2. (Source: http://ww.time.co
m).
I remember my own experience with the power of this real-time messaging service.
At the height of Estradas impeachment trial, a series of bombings racked the capit
a single day at over six different locations. Among those affected were the air
port, a passenger bus, a mall and a gas station. We were on our way to my best f
riends wedding when the grim news reached us. Instantly, people received messages o
ir cell phones to avoid public places. The advisory, true or not, exact or exagg
erated, must have saved more lives than we know. All throughout the wedding rite
s, news and updates were delivered via cell phones. Advisories on which road or
main highway to avoid were passed on. People were able to monitor current happen
ings through a medium that allowed them to be active participants. Text messagin
g provided people easy access to instant information at a time when no informati
on would have meant panic and chaos.
Aware of the power the medium wields, countrys new leader, President Gloria Macapag
royo, started using text messaging to give people better access to her office. Y
es, you can text the President now. A list of numbers was published in the newsp
apers for people to use to text their views or grievances to the President. Even
political talk shows let people to text in messages and air their opinions live
on TV. Its all about increasing Filipinos access to news and information a
um to be more active participants in a maturing democracy.
Text And The Election
Last Monday, Filipinos trooped to the polls to elect senators, congressmen and l
ocal public officials. Internet and mobile communications were part of a candida
tes cache of campaign materials. Text brigades were set up by candidates to pass on
i slogans and platforms to voters.
The National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) implemented voter education c
ampaigns to be delivered through mobile phones and the Internet. These mass educ
ation campaigns were able to reach more voters, even in outlying areas, at lower
costs. The non-profit organization has also set up its own text brigades made u
p of volunteers who send out information for forwarding to other people. The two
main cellular operators in the Philippines, Globe Telecom and Smart Communicati
ons, have included quick count updates in their information-on-demand services s
ince vote counting started. (Source:http://itmatters.bworld online.com)
Staying Connected
Culturally, there are many reasons for the popularity of the SMS in the Philippi
nes. We have a sense of community that drives us to stay connected. We just love
keeping in touch and SMS via cell phones allows people to do so. From the young
student to the busy professional, from the housewife to the policeman in the st
reet, from farmer to soldier in a remote rural area, text messaging is the way t
o connect.
We are known to be an expressive people and this is just another vehicle for us
to do just that. It is interesting to note how text messaging has given people a
medium through which to express themselves but in a nonconfrontational way that
is typically Filipino. Josephine Aguilar, a sociology professor at the Universi
ty of Santo tomas, says its a way for people to convey messages that may not be eas
aid in Asias predominantly Catholic nation. Text messages on the phone are a high-t
logy veil, protective yet provocative. This nonconfrontational nature has also m
ade the service a hit in Indonesia where politeness calls for ambiguity. The sam
e is also true in Japan where NTT DoCoMo has 7.3 million customers using the Web
on mobile phones. (Source:http://ww.text.it)
Close Ad X
Drawbacks
But just like any form of technology, text messaging has its drawbacks. It has p
roven to be one of the top driving hazards in a country where traffic jams are p
art of the peoples daily lives. Educators have stressed the implications of the tex
culture on the educational formation of the Filipino youth. With the advance of
technology comes a "de-skilling" which has implications in the educational and p
rofessional settings. With so much practice and ease in abbreviating their thoug
hts in messages, students hand in compositions using very simple words and the s
ame abbreviated language so common in text messages. Cell phones have been banne
d in schools by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports because of the c
heating and distraction that have resulted from their use. Parents are also conc
erned about the obscene and malicious text messages that are passed around witho
ut any form of supervision or screening. The National Telecommunications Commiss
ion says it has been flooded with complaints about obscene, malicious and subver
sive text messages. Candidates in this months elections have also complained about
victims of offensive and libelous text messages. (Source:http://ananova.com). B
ut it is the freedom of expression afforded by this technology that has made it
such a phenomenon among teenagers and young professionals. (To be continued)

http://www.philstar.com/business-life/85823/philippine-text-messaging-phenomenon
__________________________________________________
http://comm2research.blogspot.com/
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature
Monday, February 7, 2011
This chapter contains the gathered researches from different sources. These stud
ies will be used as a guide and support to our research. Our related literature
starts with the importance of writing and language, and goes on with the possibl
e effects that might happen to these when technology is being used extensively.
On the later part of the chapter are the gathered articles and case studies done
by various researchers.
Text Messaging Effects on Writing
Texting feature in mobile phones has become a Gods gift for most of the
people. This feature made this communication very convenient to everyone. It ha
s become an important part of the daily lives of people, especially to the Filip
inos. According to AHN Media Corp (2010), the Philippines has been tagged as the
texting capital of the world. Many Filipinos exchange text messages with the use
of their mobile phones. People have become frequent texters, and they have start
ed sending messages in shortened ways. This problem cropped up with the innovati
on of this new technology, and its possible effects on the students language prof
iciency.
The language proficiency of the students are important for effective
communication. Language, according to McKee (1939), will successfully help peop
le in different activities, which involve communication, various types of intera
ction, or even writing. Whether we are students or not, there is a need to use l
anguage appropriately. McKee goes on to say that the ability to write effectivel
y is still important regardless of the influential and incredible effects of tec
hnology on mans activities (p.3).
One of the most common issues of text messaging is its effects on ed
ucation. Some educators say it is negatively affecting the spelling proficiency
of the students. According to Dolch (1942), Children must spell if they are to wr
ite. When we write, we are really writing down our thoughts. These thoughts are e
xpressed using words, and these words need to be spelled correctly. Therefore, w
riting would require appropriate spelling (p. 1).
Writing, in addition, is very important, because it is one form of c
ommunication. According to Shidle (1965), writing skills are needed everywhere. In
his book The Art of Successful Communication, he states that it is hard to find
works which no longer needs communicating skills. Anywhere, man can connect ide
as through written communication, which exists in any level. Every person has th
e need to communicate effectively, and writing them down is one of the most effi
cient way (p. 11). Also, according to Quattrini (1985), the best way to show the
se ideas is through writing because it is like shaping what you are thinking. This
shaping also includes choosing the right words for your thought (p. 2-3). These w
ords would bring the message of your thoughts (Cruse, 2000).
Choosing the right words requires wide vocabulary. At the present, w
e are using English as our medium of communication; therefore, there is a need f
or us to be familiar with the English vocabulary. According to Gabianas research
(as cited in Saga-Olis, 1998), students were very positive toward the English la
nguage as part of their system of education. This attitude of the respondents le
d to the conclusion that the students felt that language play an important role
on their success in the future. The achievement of many professionals also lies
on their ability to use the language appropriately. According to Mackay (as cite
d in Saga-Olis, 1998), professionals who master the English language tend to be
successful and globally competitive (p. 42). This goes to show the importance of
English as a medium of communicating internationally. The study of Enriquez and

Nolasco (2007) also showed that a person who has a wide range of vocabulary mig
ht not have difficulties in thinking and communication. The two also added that
vocabulary, spelling and grammar skills are the basic components of language whi
ch are very useful to a mans life.
However, nowadays, there are educators who have been complaining on
papers handed by their students. One of these educators is Kate Ross (2010), who
stated that the use of cellular phones are affecting students spelling and gramm
ar proficiency negatively, as evidenced from their use of abbreviated words. Thi
s resulted in extensive use of electronic chatting. The students are producing w
orse assignments, creating incorrect subject-verb agreements, and misspelling. R
oss is an instructional coach for language arts teachers in her own district, an
d she often see shortened words or sentences in text messaging dialogues on stud
ents compositions. She said that this might have changed the attitude of the stud
ents towards writing, and it seemed that they want everything done as fast as po
ssible. But before mobile phones became a problem to some, it used to be a conne
ctor between people.
Montiel and Estuar (2006) made a study about the usage of mobile pho
ne nowadays. And they concluded that text messaging is the most effective way of
communicating with other people. Aside from that, it is the fastest and the che
apest among the communication technologies of the new generation because of its
sending shortened messages (SMS) or texting feature. This feature, allows people
to communicate with each other regardless of how far they are from each other.
Thus, this texting feature made mobile phones or cellular phones very popular in
our country, that even the youth are getting hooked up to this new form of tech
nology.
Estuars research (2003) showed that there is a high rate of ownership
and high rate of usage of cellular phones regardless of what school or gender t
he students belong. Private school students were more frequent users of cost-incu
rring features, whereas public school students were more frequent users of no-co
st features of mobile phones. The former also have a higher rate of texting compa
red to their public school counter parts. In addition, the number of days one ca
n survive without a cellular phone or without having to exchange messages is hig
her among males and public school students (p.103). This goes to show that cellu
lar phones are very popular, regardless of the age.
An example that would show the rapidly growing popularity of cellula
r phones is the report from Sify News (as cited in Proysen, 2009) about a 13-yea
r old girl from California who had sent 14, 528 messages in a month (13, Januar
y 2009).
These communication gadgets are used by adolescents not only for com
munication purposes but also for maintaining their relationships with other peop
le. Cell phones provide them the ability to show who they are and to express wha
t they feel through texting feature. According to Pertierra et al. (as cited in
Estuar, 2003), the cellular phone is like an extension or an expression of ones s
elf. Compared to other forms of communication that the new world offers like the
telephones and electronic mail, mobile phone technology greatly augments the no
n-confrontational nature of Filipinos. As what is said earlier, in texting, peop
le can send messages to a person even without knowing where the person is, what
the person is doing, and who the person is with. The mobile phones predecessor reg
ular telephones require a fixed location for their use. But with the cellular ph
one, being primarily mobile, people can now establish contact with another perso
n, regardless of where the caller and the called are (p. 104)
.
According to Estuar et al. (2006), aside from the internet, mobile p
hones were used in pro-democracy movements. Mobile phones were relatively cheaper
and more affordable and accessible, especially to a larger group of people belon
ging to the poorer groups in the society. The mobile phone made communication so
easy and possible regardless of time and space barriers by increasing its utili
ty in political mobilizations and mass persuasions. As evidenced from the Philippi
nes, for example, optimal use of mobile phones texting capability helped in bring
ing down a corrupt president through the People Power II that occurred last 2001
. According to Villamor (as cited in Estuar, 2003), by using the cellular phones
, rally organizers have united and mobilized the crowds in front of the historic
Edsa Shrine just an hour after the Senate have vetoed the opening of the bank e
vidence against the supposed-to-be reigning president Estrada (p. 105).
Estuar et al. also said that during those historical moments, the us
e of cellular phones had filtered through Filipinos everyday life, especially to
the youth and Metro Manilans. Texting through mobile phones as a new technology
hence played a vital role in the swift alignment of political consciousness, esp
ecially among the multitude of young Filipino people.
Pertierra, Ugarte, Pingal, Hernandez and Dacanay (as cited in Estuar
, 2003), wrote an all-inclusive account of the social consequences of commonness
in mobile phone use in the Philippines, with the conclusion that cellphones have
become a major icon in Philippine life, in that it has extended the scope of so
cial relationships (p. 149). And from 1994 to 2002, cellphones in the Philippines
were mainly used for texting (p. 150).
Because cellular phones became a popular icon in the world, several
consequences were prophesied. Some of these are the increased number of people w
ho are fascinated with the features of cellular phones, particularly its texting
feature. Some were obsessed that they allot greater time for text messaging, wh
ich leads to the use of shorthand method of texting, and will eventually contrib
ute in the deterioration of the students spelling and grammar skills. But is ther
e truth to these claims?
Russell (2010) stated that there are different effects of frequent t
ext messaging. He cited an educator in Edutopia.org saying that I teach 9th and 1
1th English, and regardless of the age, my students spelling is atrocious. Textin
g does not and has not helped. Some teachers believed that shorthand texting is k
illing the English language because students have been writing compositions in b
ad spelling and grammar (parag. 2-3).
Russell also said that some teachers, on the other hand, took it as
a positive effect. According to the teachers, because of texting and other ways
of communicating, students have started to write and edit more text (parag. 4).
Lee (as cited in Proysen, 2009) also said that some teachers encourage their stu
dents to use instant messaging if it really helps them develop creativity when w
riting. Others also think that texting has no effect on English grammar. Student
s may learn the language of texting, but they too, should not forge that the lan
guage of texting is different form the English language, and that shorthand text
ing is different from the correct English grammar (parag. 5).
Recent news from United Kingdom reports about a Scottish pupil who s
ubmitted an essay in shorthand form like texting. According to Cramb (as cited i
n Pryosen, 2009), this is because of frequent use of mobile phones and text mess
aging. The student said she found it easier than standard English. The Scottish Qu
alifications Authority said that text messaging language was inappropriately used
(parag. 4). Gillespie (as cited in Proysen, 2009), the Scottish Teacher Parent C
ouncil, said that the deterioration in spelling and grammar proficiency of the s
tudent is an effect of frequent text messaging. She went on to say that:
There must be rigorous efforts from all quarters of the education system to stam
p out the use of texting as a form of written language so far as English study i
s concerned. There
has been a trend in recent years to emphasis spoken Englis
h. Pupils think orally and write phonetically. You would be shocked at the numbe
rs of senior secondary pupils who cannot distinguish between their and there. Th
e problem is that there is a feeling in some schools that pupils freedom of exp
ression should not be inhibited (as cited in Proysen, 2009).
Edwards (2009) said that texting contributes to peoples indolence whe
n it comes to writing. In his own experience, he himself developed changes on hi
s writing abilities ever since he engaged in text messaging. According to him, i
t helps in speeding up communication. And because of frequent usage of shortened
messages in texting, it becomes a habit. He sometimes caught himself using the sh
orthand method of writing even in doing his projects in school, which goes to sh
ow that text messaging has really affected his writing ability. When he research
ed in the internet, he discovered that many people also believed that texting af
fects the writing skills of students. Edwards always feel that using the original
way of writing when doing his school projects is more difficult than using the te
xt messaging language. Because of this, he became lazier. He also said that most
people are hooked up to texting that they send text messages even when theyre doi
ng several activities like driving, when in a funeral, or in a graduation ceremo
ny. But according to Guerra (2007), although most of the people are frequent tex
ters, not all of them apply shorthand texting when writing. She said that studen
ts say it does affect their writing proficiency, and some say it has no impact a
t all. Nevertheless, texting is still a problem to most people.
Like Guerra, Laurilla (2009) obtained varied facts from her research
titled A Preliminary Investigation on the Linguistic Aspects of Text Messaging
. She implied that the use of mobile phones are common to the younger sector of
the society (p. 9). Report from Media use statistics said that almost two-thirds o
f the teenagers today are cellular phone owners (as cited in Laurilla, 2009). Th
e youths are expected to be frequent texters, since they grew along the moderniz
ation and technological innovation of cellular phones. Because of this, There is
a raging national debate about the state of writing and how high-tech communicat
ion by teens might be affecting their ability to think and write (Guerra, 2008, p
arag. 1). This research by De La Salle University-Manilas Department of English a
nd Applied Linguistics (DEAL) Assistant Professor Nudred-Laurilla found that the
re is no significant effect and difference between the spelling and grammar effi
ciency of students who own cellular phones and those who dont. And from that, it
can be implied that the respondents proficiency when it comes to spelling and gra
mmar, is independent to whether they have cellular phones or not. Also, among ow
ners of cellular phones, their frequent text messaging does not affect their spe
lling and grammar proficiency (p.11).
Aside from Laurilla, a research on the use of the shorthand method o
f texting was conducted by Tiempo (2006). He said that another form of communica
tion in texting is code-switching. This is common to a number of Cebuano people.
Tiempo says that code switching is a natural bilingual behavior that usually ha
ppens in any informal conversations, whether it is direct or indirect. Through h
is qualitative method of analysis, this study of Tiempo titled Cebuano Code Swit
ching, Text Jargon, and Fricative Production in Short Messaging Services (SMS) f
ound that there is no significant differences between the texting styles of both
males and females (p. 74-75).
Another research on the use of the shorthand method of texting by Ba
nton et al. (2010) said that same assumptions rose about the negative claims on
text messaging. Banton with his group researchers conducted a study by giving ou
t a pre-survey on those students who were cellular phone owners and non-owners a
nd their daily time allotment for cellular phone use. After that was the spellin
g and grammar tests given the 3rd year high school students of St. Pauls School o
f Ormoc Foundation Inc. The research resulted with the following: Students who h
ad greater time allotment for text messaging had lower average scores compared t
o those who were not frequent texters at all. Among cellular phone owners, those
who were frequent users of shorthand method of texting appeared to have poorer
scores in both spelling and grammar tests (p.29).
Similarly, a research by Rosen et al. (2009) showed that youths who
used shorthand texting (LOL, gudnyt, etc.) in everyday writing developed the wor
se formal writing than those youths who rarely used shorthand texts. Those who u
sed shorthand texts for communication were better informal writers.
Unlike Rosen et al.s research, the study conducted by Tomita (2009) a
bout text messaging gathered a different result. On Tomitas research titled Text
Messaging and its Implications for its use in Education, he said that the world
is becoming more technologically advanced, together with the rapid improvement o
f the world. And with these, the students have to adjust and cope with the chang
es on their own. His study found that text messaging tools provide an effective m
eans of teaching students important 21st century skills. Furthermore, Plester (as
cited in Tomita, 2009) said that tools like the Web enhances students ability
to write, encourages them to make interactions, and motivating them to become go
od communicators because it helps develop the students creativity. In addition, T

omita also stated that literacy is not limited only to paper works, but also to
digital literacy (p. 189).
Critics are very particular on the issue about the use of shortened
words especially when it comes to education. According to Shaughnessy (as cited
in Tomita, 2009), to overcome the character limit of 160 characters, people use
jargons, codes, or shorten the words. This form of communication is too easy tha
t it no longer require analysis. In addition, OConnor (as cited in Tomita, 2009)
said that if students continue to use instant messaging, the more that they coul
d no longer distinguish formal and informal writing. Others also use acronyms an
d other abbreviations (OConnor, 2005). But still, Goldstein and Gardner (as cited
in Tomita, 2009) believe that formal writing is far different from informal wri
ting, no matter what the medium is.
Others also disagree with the negative effect of text messaging. Pet
rillo (2006) quoted Dr. Beverly Plester, Newer research shows a stronger casual r
elationship between text abbreviations and literacy skills. Plester here is sayin
g that text messaging is giving an exposure to the written words, which relates
to a higher literacy attainment. In addition, according to Helderman (2003), Glo
ria Jobobs, a doctoral student studying the relationship of teenagers and instan
t messaging, said that students are fluent with online writing, so probably it c
ould help them improve their writing ability.
In contrary to the conclusion derived from Petrillo and Heldermans st
udies, Baron (as cited in Proysen, 2009) concluded that the language of text mess
aging and electronic communication has triggered the rise of evils that would be
unleashed by text messaging, such as the deterioration of spelling and grammar s
kills, and its application on the writings of the students. In Proysens study tit
led The Impact of Text Messaging on Standard English revealed that some educator
s have been indicating that text messaging has created a reflection on the stude
nts school papers. According to Crystal (as cited in Proysen, 2009), one example
was found, which was an essay composition entirely written in shorthand form. Th
is study of Proysen was conducted to find out whether the claims on the negative
effects of text messaging is true. His study found out that these negative effe
cts seem to have affected some of the respondents. Some students are not aware t
hat they are carrying the text messaging language onto their writing. While some
of them said it was stupid enough not to know the difference between Standard E
nglish and text abbreviations. According to Crystal (as cited in Proysen, 2009),
Expertise in text messaging and email in particular would appear to have affecte
d spelling and punctuation (p. 83). Text messaging with its use of phonetic spell
ing and little or no punctuation, seems to pose a threat to traditional conventi
ons in writing (p. 84). Proysen went on to say that the text messaging phenomeno
n had a great impact on peoples everyday use of language although it gained popul
arity for a very short time. Proysen was sure of one thing. As his fieldwork sho
ws, text messaging created negative effects, whether it is slight or great (p.86
). This conclusion of Proysen was similar to one of Myhras articles titled Negati
ve Effects of Texting in the Classroom.
Myhra (2010) believed that people of the present generation have gro
wn advanced together with the innovation of technology, specifically the cellula
r phone, which is said to have affected the students spelling and grammar profici
ency. People have started sending messages in abbreviated or shortened form. Stu
dents who are frequent texters have developed a new form of writing that is unacce
ptable to school-related works (parag. 1). He added that students are no longer
practicing the proper use of punctuation, and upper and lowercase letters (parag
. 3).
Myhra (2010) concluded that frequent sending of text messages could
affect the students way of writing. Students have developed the habit of writing
in shorthand form, which caused them to write informally. Texting has affected t
he students writing and grammar proficiency negatively (parag. 9).
This research gives more focus on the students use of the shorthand m
ethod of texting, which they sometimes tend to apply on their school works. This
research will serve as a point of reflection for the students, to discover whet
her text messaging and the use of abbreviations or jargons could positively or n
egatively affect their spelling and grammar proficiency. The various researches
we have gathered from different sources are composed of numerous ideas that led
us to the formulation of different assumptions about the use of shorthand textin
g. Its only difference from our research is that our study will also focus on th
e frequency of cellular phone use, which was given less focus on other researche
s.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:
Cruse, Alan D. (2000). Meaning in Language: An Introduction to Sematics and Prag
mantics. United States: Oxford University Press Inc.
Dolch, E.W. (1942). Better Spelling. Champagne, Illinois: The Garrard Press.
McKee, P. (1939). Language in the Elementary School. Cambridge, Massachusetts, U
SA: The Riverside Press.
Quattrini, J. A. (1985). Brushing Up Your Writing Skills. 215 Park Avenue South,
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Shidle, N. (1965). The Art of Successful Communication. USA: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Unpublished Materials:
Banton, J. et al. (2010). The Effects of Shorthand Texting and Great Time Allotm
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Phone Use on the Spelling and Grammar Skills of the Third Ye
ar High School Students of St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation Inc. Unpublished
Thesis, St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation Inc.
Enriquez, S. R. and Nolasco, C. M. D. (2007). Effects of Reading in Vocabulary a
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Saga-Olis, B. (1998). English Proficiency of Technology Teachers and Students in
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Periodicals:
Estuar, Ma. Regina. (2003). Lets Talk about Txt! Understanding the Texting Cultur
e of the Filipino Youth. Ateneo De Manila University.
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AHN Media Corp. (2010). The Philippines as the texting capital of the world. Retri
eved January 13, 2011 from http://www.writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/summa
ry.html.
Edwards, Corban. (2009). Text Messaging Effects on Writing. Retrieved December 3
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Guerra, Nicole. (2007) Texting Affects Student Writing: R U Concerned?. Retrieve
d January 6, 2011 from http://gnovisjournal.org/blog/text-based-short-hand-affec
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Myhra, John. (2010). Negative Effects of Texting in the Classroom. Retrieved Jan
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Ross, Kate (2010). Teachers say text messaging r ruining kids riting skill. Retri
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Russell, Lisa M. (2010). The Effects of Text Messaging on English Grammar. Retri
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Laurilla, Nudred. (2009). A Preliminary Investigation on the Linguistic Aspects

of Text Messaging. Retrieved February 2, 2010 from http://www.newsflash.org/200
2/06/si/si001247.htm
Proysen, Stine. (2009). The Impact of Text Messaging on Standard English. Norway
: University of Bergen. Retrieved December 15, 2010 from https://bora.uib.no/bit
stream/1956/3320/1/56404526.pdf
Rosen, L. D. et al. (2009). The Relationship Between Textisms and Formal and Infor
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Tomita, Dean. (2009). Text Messaging and its Implications for its use in Educati
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a.pdf.
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http://www.hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/viewFile/170/131
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http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/conferences/dlsu_research_congress/2014/_pdf/proceedings/
LCCS-I-009-FT.pdf
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http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/images/c/c7/2010-26182_ASTUDILLO_April_2014.pdf
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