Mobile Phones for University Students

Nowadays modern technology is developing so rapidly that people can hardly catch up with its pace. There is no doubt that mobile phones, as a new industry of modern technology, have got into people’s life. As sensitive reflectors of information and fashion, more and more mobile phone users have appeared in the campus everywhere. While some students are enjoying whatever mobile phones have brought to us, there are others who stand against it. This essay will explain the possible effects of mobile phone use on university students, focusing on the benefits and drawbacks.
The main benefits of mobile phones in university are as follows. Firstly, there is no denying the fact that mobile phones have made campus life more convenient. A recent survey found that mobile phones are becoming part of university life and 99.7% of students use their own mobile phones to communicate with others (Ransford, 2009). As it can be seen, mobile phones provide students with a fast and convenient way of communication, such as getting in touch with schoolmates and hunting for jobs, which was previously unimaginable. Secondly, instead of going to the PC lab and finding computers to look for news on current events, students can use mobile-network to search the Internet. It is by this means that university students can broaden their horizon and enrich their minds. Lastly, with the help of mobile phones, students can do work more efficiently. Many students in university treat mobile phones as electronic dictionary and chart with teachers for academic purpose. They share useful information related to their lessons and solve academic problems sometimes. In this way, mobile phones not only can save our time and energy but also help with our study.
However, the negative effects are also obvious. Above all, more and more university students are indulged in Java QQ and online games, which make them weak in study. Moreover, some even use mobile phones to cheat in the examinations. It has been reported that almost 80% university students use Java QQ constantly and more than half of them are in favor of it. Only less than 1/3 of them comment that it is bad to our health and study if students spend too much time on Java QQ and online games. Some students even spend a whole day playing with their mobile phones and send thousands of short messages every day. If they do not use Java QQ a day, they will feel anxious (Yang, 2009). In other words, some university students have regarded playing with mobile phones as a kind of habit and fashion. In the second place, some students often make comparison of others’ mobile phones. They always want to own an attractive and high-grade one. Consequently, it costs them too much money and energy to buy a new style in order to gratify their vanity. Finally, mobile phones in university also bring some health risks, both physical and mental, if not properly used. It has been highlighted the fact that some pornographic video and photos of two U.S. high school girls was spread so rapidly that even police were hard to stop them. In addition, District Attorney James B. Martin said that at least 40 Parkland High School students believed to have received the pornographic images (Rubinkam, 2008). It is really harmful to university students’ future development, especially those are immature.
In conclusion, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and mobile phone is no exception. On the one hand, using mobile phones in university can help students communicate with each other more convenient, have rich knowledge and study more efficiently. On the other hand, mobile phones can also have bad influence on learning; encourage students’ vanities as well as mental injury. In my point of view, therefore, there are three solutions which can solve this problem. Firstly the university authority should intensify publicity and education. Secondly coercive measures can be put into effect, such as shielding the mobile phones in classrooms and libraries. Lastly university students should promote themselves and fight temptation. A brighter future is awaiting us if we make good use of mobile phones.