You have one; your kids want one. Welcome to the world of smartphones. A smartphone is on every tweens gift list, and it’s not surprising considering 89% of teens own one. But did you know that owning a smartphone isn’t all that good for you? Of course, you did, but here are some things you might not know about why. 

 GERMS, GERMS AND MORE GERMS

Smartphones are full of bacteria. Your smartphone is home to ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Various studies have found E. coli, MRSA, Streptococcus, and many other species living on mobile phones. Not sure your teen would be too impressed with that! 

 IT KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU 

Your smartphone knows your location, what you like, what you want to buy, and even where you are travelling to. Of course, you can turn these settings off, one by one, app by app but your kids will rarely remember to do so, and it’s more than likely that you haven’t either. 

BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Did you know that smartphones have a huge carbon footprint? Studies show that by 2040 they will have the most significant carbon footprint in the tech industry. How? The majority of their emissions come from their production chain. 

ADDICTION

Smartphone addiction, also known as “nomophobia” is becoming more and more common amongst young people. This addiction can affect our physical health, mental health and our social wellbeing. Smartphones are a great distraction from real life, but they can quickly become addictive. There are now treatment options available for Internet addictions, which shows just how damaging it can be. 

PAIN

Smartphones are now starting to cause young people physical pain. Pain in hands, fingers and elbows are being reported with studies showing that overuse of smartphones may cause early-onset Arthritis. 

There are many more negative impacts of the overuse of smartphones, but for today we will leave it there. Did you know these facts already? Do you worry that your kids will overuse their smartphones? Join the conversation in the comments below, or via our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. 

My Gator Watch is a wearable mobile phone designed especially for 5-12-year-olds. It uses GPS, two-way calling, works across multiple networks and has an SOS feature for peace of mind. It does not have a messaging feature, and you, the parent; determine all numbers that are pre-set within the phone.

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