Being Glued to Your Phone Is Dangerous: “You’re Losing Your Human Capability,” Psychologist Warns

By Moon Harper

Jul 03, 2024 06:04 AM EDT

A photo depicting phone reliance — (Photo : Unsplash/Hitesh Choudhary)

We are in a world where people are so glued to their phones that they do not even notice how dangerous it can be to their well-being.

Receptivity Defined

Organizational psychologist Richard Davis, the managing director of Toronto-based leadership consulting firm Russell Reynolds Associates, attributes this to technology, social media, and artificial intelligence, which pose a significant risk of losing what he terms receptivity, capable of having good judgment and insight about people.

In a LinkedIn article, receptivity reflects your readiness to engage, experience, and remain open. It is similar to a permeable membrane within your energy field, enabling unfamiliar or new elements to enter your awareness.

People increasingly depend on their phones to such an extent that they find it harder to make independent judgment calls. According to Davis, this cognitive ability has to be exercised so you don't lose it.

Before GPS was even introduced, for instance, people used to rely on physical maps or memory to navigate. Many may find themselves more easily disoriented if their phone loses power. It is an alarming reality, but if technology fails, people's capacity to communicate and form connections with one another is also at risk.

Being constantly engrossed in your phone, meeting people, or making business decisions solely online without truly seeing or spending time with individuals, you are losing your fundamental human ability to understand others, Davis shared with CNBC Make It.

LinkedIn author Meg Beeler wrote that when you are unable to encounter anything beyond your current knowledge and hesitate to trust your experiences, your perception of the world remains stagnant and inflexible. This lack of openness prevents any meaningful change or growth.

Being Tech-Savvy Alone Won't Take You Places

While experience is invaluable, a Forbes article shared that tech-savvy newcomers can often establish themselves as invaluable contributors among more seasoned colleagues with the right approach.

However, according to Davis, demonstrating the capability to complete tasks, solve problems, and build relationships independently weighs more on CEOs when evaluating employees for promotions than being tech-savvy alone.

Getting Your Head Up Out of Your Phone

According to January data from the Pew Research Center, 20% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 rely primarily on smartphones for their internet access and daily tasks.

There is compelling evidence indicating that excessive screen time can negatively impact health. One study linked spending six hours or more per day on screens with an increased risk of depression. While another study showed that restricting social media use to 30 minutes daily significantly improved well-being, Reid Heath wrote.

Hence, even a minor reduction in phone usage can open up space for screen-free activities that improve receptivity and cognition.

Davis advises people to remove their heads from their phones and interact face-to-face to gain deeper insights into others. This leads to better decision-making and a greater understanding of others.