They've Really got a Hold on me

As discussed in the Social Implications of Mobile Telephony  by Scott Campbell and Yong Jin Park, mobile technology is the cutting edge of technology in our generation and has impacted the world by spreading the message "you cannot function without a mobile phone".  The article discusses the relationship between communication and the body, and how cell phones have made communication possible at any point in time.  Our generation seems to feel the need to be in constant communication at all times, especially with the popularity of texting.  If we are not communicating on our phones, we are waiting to be communicated with, waiting for that phone call or text message, waiting so much so that we are incapable of leaving the house without our cell phones.  If we do indeed forget our phone, we have minor to major anxiety attacks over whether it was misplaced or wondering if we will miss anything important.  Since cell phones are seen by the majority of working society as essential, Cell phone providers capitalize on this big time by setting out a newer version of the various models every year.  Now we not only think that cell phones are essential, but with the new conceptualization of smart phones, we have inner competitions, wanting to get the newest and best phone.  When I recently went home for Christmas vacation I saw a group of friends I had not seen in a couple of years,  what I noticed instantly was that in a group of ten people only one did not own an Iphone, and she stood out.  We are influenced by our peers as much as we influence ourselves into wanting the newest and most high tech phones.  If we get the newest phone before others, we consider ourselves superior, if we purchase it late it is because we feel pressured by our surroundings to be 'in the loop'.  Cell phones create competition and obsession, and as of this point Western society could not function without them, a sad thought when twenty years ago we could.