Mobile Phone: Friend, Addiction, or Silent Destroyer?

In today’s world, mobile phone has become more than just a device. It has turned into one of the closest companions of humans. From children to adults, from youth to elderly, every stage of life is now tightly bound to this gadget. What once began as a tool for communication has silently transformed into a force shaping habits, relationships, and even health.

Children, for instance, no longer eat their meals unless entertained by the glowing screen of a 5G device in their mother’s hand. What once was a dining table filled with conversations is now dominated by nursery rhymes and cartoon clips on YouTube. Mothers, often helpless, use the phone as a quick solution to keep their children engaged, unaware that this “sweet poison” is slowly altering the natural growth of their young ones.

The scene is no different among elders. Our parents, who once gathered with family at dinner, now find themselves distracted by endless videos, songs, and reels online. Many even forget to eat on time. Spiritually and emotionally, they are being distanced from family bonding, lost in the rush of digital amusement.

The case of students is even more alarming. In schools, colleges, and universities, the mobile phone has become a silent competitor to teachers. Recently, at a girls’ institution, it was shocking to see students bringing not only their phones but also chargers to the classroom, as if the lecture hall were a charging station rather than a space for knowledge-sharing. As a teacher, one cannot help but notice how these young learners fail to give their 100% during a 40-minute class, their thoughts divided between textbooks and the constant buzz of notifications.

Public spaces tell the same story. Trains, buses, parks—everywhere, faces are buried in glowing screens. A person who leaves home after breakfast feels uncomfortable if they step out without their mobile phone. It has turned into an inseparable extension of human existence.

Doctors have repeatedly warned about the dangers. The radiation, the mental stress, the constant exposure, these are no longer unknown. Yet, despite knowing the risks, society seems unable to resist. As a head of the family, I too have tried to keep my children away from these devices, but failed. The lure of the screen is stronger than the words of advice.

And what of the youth? They may believe they are “enjoying life” through chats, games, and fantasy apps, but in reality, they are silently losing their golden years. Careers are being destroyed, families are suffering losses, and in extreme cases, lives have been ruined all at the hands of this one device.

So, the pressing question remains: Who is responsible? The child who cries for a phone? The young person who wastes their potential on it? Or the elder who forgets meals and prayers while scrolling? Perhaps, the answer is collective. As a society, we all need to intervene. We must remember that while mobile phones are powerful tools, they are also silent destroyers if not handled wisely.

The time has come to reflect; are we using mobile phones, or are mobile phones using us.