Smartphones & Internet: Benefits, Risks, Dangers & Safe Usage Tips

In fact, the advent of smartphones has revolutionized our lives. Many tasks can be accomplished through smartphones. For example, if you want to send a photo to someone, you can take it instantly. If editing is necessary, it's no big deal. Edit as needed and send it wherever you want. Similarly, filling out a form, making a reservation, sending money, or requesting money from anywhere is done instantly these days.

Illustrations depicting the advantages, disadvantages and safe use of smartphones and the Internet.

The most important thing about smartphones is that they have truly revolutionized communication. No matter how far away a person is, or in any corner of the world, we can instantly know about them and get their well-being. You can simply make a voice call and talk to them to your heart's content, send a test message, or even make a video call to see how they look and what they're really up to.Smartphones are amazing; they can handle almost everything from entertainment to everyday essential tasks.

But while it has so many advantages, it also has just as many disadvantages and dangers. Most commonly, fraudulent calls from around the world. While some may receive them frequently, others only occasionally, they do. Nowadays, young children are busy with their smartphones instead of playing outside. It's also common to see people, when they have free time, engrossed in their smartphones instead of talking to each other. Even when they do talk, they talk only briefly, and then return to their phones. Almost everyone does this, whether they're friends, husband and wife, or anyone in any other relationship.

Smartphone Addiction is Breaking Families

One thing must be admitted: smartphones are a great way to pass the time.Because smartphones have almost everything—content for everyone's tastes—entertainment, knowledge, serious topics, fun, everything. It's not necessary to know just one or a few languages ​​to use a smartphone. Smartphones have adapted to suit all kinds of people, meaning they have content tailored to suit almost every type of person. They have reached almost every corner of the world, across all languages, dialects, and people with all kinds of thinking and actions. Smartphones have not only reached all kinds of people, places, and jobs, but have also penetrated the hearts and minds of people.

There was a time when it was said that a person's basic needs were food, clothing, and shelter. But today, it seems that people would be unable to imagine life without smartphones and the internet. How can they? People are becoming increasingly dependent on smartphones and the internet for everything from entertainment to daily tasks. It's also fair to say that today's people have become largely dependent on the internet and smartphones for almost everything they do. Except for some elderly individuals who have always avoided phones. They occasionally use smartphones for entertainment. Among those who maintain a certain distance from smartphones are those who find them convenient but not safe.

That's enough to praise smartphones and the internet and their importance in today's world. Now, let's discuss the potential downsides.

You use many work-related apps and websites, but what often happens is that many apps and websites collect your personal data, such as name, photo, location, and contacts, without proper permission. This could lead to identity theft, false advertisements being created using your identity, or your identity being used for malicious purposes in the future.

Similarly, phishing and fraudulent calls and messages occur, in which suspicious apps or links introduce viruses into the phone that steal data or lock the phone. Subsequently, your personal photos, videos, or any other type of photo or file are leaked. Your phone malfunctions. It's also possible that you receive calls from unknown numbers and are threatened with demands for money. It's not necessary that the blackmailer demands money; they can exploit your leaked information and weaknesses and create fear in your mind to force you into committing any kind of illegal act. Some guidelines for this include downloading apps only from official stores, avoiding running unknown APKs, and keeping security apps on your mobile. 

Similarly, if you become addicted to the internet, your time is wasted. Viewing inappropriate content can lead to mental health issues such as stress, depression, and low self-esteem. To avoid these, it's recommended to take social media breaks, follow positive content, and seek professional help if necessary. Because the internet is also rife with negative content, it's often used for comparison purposes, and it features political and other rhetoric and nonsense from around the world. Furthermore, it also displays misleading and provocative content.

There are also physical side effects, such as eye strain, neck pain, headaches, and sleep disturbances from prolonged screen time. To avoid these, it's recommended to use your smartphone and the internet while sitting in the correct posture. Instead of continuous use, take frequent breaks.

If you share your location online, you could be stalked, robbed, or even robbed. Therefore, sharing your live location in a public place is not advisable.

If you download movies or apps illegally from a website, lured by free content, you risk viruses and legal troubles. For this, you should respect the relevant laws and use streaming/software only from official sources.

And who knows what other problems can arise from smartphones and the internet. So, friends, don't rely on your smartphone for everything. Don't let your smartphone outsmart you. Use your smartness more than your smartphone so that it works to help you, rather than you living for it by relying too much on it.

There's a saying in our Indian society, and everyone has heard it at some point: "Eat to live, don't live to eat." Similarly, it's also appropriate to say, "Smartphones and the internet were made for you, not you for smartphones and the internet."

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