Cell+Phone+Abigail+C.

**Cell Phones** Cell phones have greatly influenced the lives of teenagers today. They have changed dramatically in the past 30 years. The first cell phones were big and bulky, and did not have the ability to text, take pictures, or even use the Internet. In fact, these phones could only do one task: talk.

Today, however, not only can cell phones just call, they can also text, surf the web, go on social networking sites, and watch Youtube videos. Cell phones can be used as tools in some ways, such as students asking friends for homework, and businesses using them to connect with other businesses, but usually, people end up using them as machines. They just spend all day texting, surfing the web, and going on social networking sites in ways that they will not learn anything. Even though cell phones can be fun because they allow us to communicate with others and see what’s going on in their lives, they can also reduce and diminish us. For example, children can be cyberbullied through text messages and social networking sites. Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of technology, including cell phones, and the Internet. Cell phones have not been around for a long time, in fact, the first cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper in 1973. This cell phone was very different than the phones we own today. There was no texting, no Internet, no camera; the only thing it could actually do was talk. The phones were also very bulky because the battery was bigger, and they had antennas. My parents and grandparents did not have the priviledge of having a cell phone as a teenager. Instead, whenever they needed to communicate with someone quickly, maybe in case of an emergency, they used the landline, commonly referred to as the "home phone", and contacted them through that. But if they wanted to talk to someone just for fun, they wrote letters and sent mail to each other. Of course, this mode of communication took much longer than the texting and instant-messaging we are used to.

However, almost all of my friends have cell phones, and we constantly use them to keep in touch. In fact, most people that I know, including me, can't imagine life without technology and their cell phones. But, a person doesn’t need a cell phone to be happy. I admire my neighbor, who is practically an aunt to me, because she is a great role model. She does not have a cell phone. Having a cell phone does not make us superior to anyone else. My family sees having a cell phone important, but also unimportant at the same time. For example, my father uses his cell phone to talk to people from other businesses from around the world, and just people who he works with by emailing on his phone, and by calling them. He uses his phone to discuss important business. They also feel that it is important for children my age to have cell phones because most children are involved in after-school activities. My parents encourage me to bring my cell phone to school and after-school activities every day, and to make sure it's charged because they want me to always be able to call them if there is ever an emergency. However, they also feel that it is unimportant, because sometimes I spend so much time texting that it distracts me from my studies. Sometimes I'll just be sitting in my room on my phone, when I could be doing something more constructive such as homework, or exercising.



Sometimes our cell phones can encourage us to become obsessive over texting and social networking sites. Also, some of the content on Internet in general, and text messages isn’t always appropriate. So, having a cell phone can influence bad behavior in children and teenagers. The need for cell phones is not real, it is more created because people feel as if they HAVE to have a cell phone because their friends have them and they feel as if they won’t fit in unless they have one. They fear that they will be teased, which, in fact, does happen in some schools.

Having a cell phone can impact many aspects of life. For example, children do not get enough physical activity when they spend all day on their phones. They can use their phones to connect with the outside world, such as talking to family or friends that they haven't seen in person in a while. Cell phones are a very useful tool that can allow businesses to communicate, but they can also hurt people through cyberbullying. We can also find out what is going on all around the world by using our cell phones to surf the web. 

In general, I feel that cell phones can be useful in emergencies, and can help businesses, but are mainly used for communicating with friends. Cell phones do connect us with the rest of the world, but it can enslave us because we take them everywhere and never turn them off! So, in my opinion, cell phones can be useful, but are not an important piece of technology that is needed in life. 