S“Nearly all U.S. kids under age four have used a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone” (Haelle). Non-smartphones differ from smartphones because they only have call features for emergencies and not apps and texting and internet connection and games and music and social media. Smartphones are the new “must have” accessory even for the younger generation. Future generations such as present day elementary school children will grow up antisocial if they use smartphones. Children must not have smart phones because it will inhibit their social interaction for life.

People learn to care more about their smartphones than the people around them. First, research shows that “82 per cent of adults acknowledge that using our phone during an in-person conversation hurts that interaction, 89 percent cop to doing it anyways.” (WE)  By using smart phones while interacting with others people “slip into an absent presence” where they ignore others speaking and focus on games like Candy Crush and Doodle Jump (WE). Who does not get distracted by entertaining apps? Also, cell phone usage decreases empathy. Research shows that “a phone on the table hinders conversation and stunts compassion, whether you use that phone or not” (WE). A University of Michigan study found “American college students had a 40-per-cent decrease in empathy in the past four decades” (WE). This drop in empathy can be directly related to smartphones and new technology. If children grow up using smartphones it will destroy their ability to speak and communicate with others. Empathy is an essential, endangered emotion to understanding and interacting with others around us. A drop in empathy increases the difficulty to have meaningful conversations, and communication is necessary in all aspects of life. Finally, talking over the phone and not face to face is a result of smartphones. The Pew Research Center discovered “fifty-four percent of American teenagers text their friends once a day, but only 33 percent said they talk to their friends face-to-face on a daily basis” (Stout). Alarmingly, people  have stopped talking to each other face to face --they find it awkward and unpredictable. Smartphones are now their main means of interaction. People are glued to smartphones, and smartphones are glued to people. Smartphones discourage users from being social, thus being unhealthy.

Despite the evidence that shows smartphones transform young, outgoing people into anti socialists, a majority insist that smartphones have become a new and exciting way to communicate. In fact, smartphones can engage people from around the world and have become a new way of interacting; however, sitting behind a screen and texting does not promote the social skills needed to hold an in-person conversation. People are no longer interacting with others. Children will grow up believing it’s normal to have a conversation with Siri instead of the people around them.

Children must not grow up with smartphones if they want to be social. Without smartphones people are more empathetic and can benefit from face to face interactions. Children must not have smartphones. Not ever.