When smartphones were first created, no one could have predicted how much they would explode in popularity. Or how they would begin to consume many aspects of our lives. Nowadays, it is nearly impossible to go through day-to-day life without one of these handheld devices in our pockets. They are used for everything from taking pictures to giving directions to paying for things at the store. They are handy devices that have altered our lives.
Immediate Gratification
Whether the cell phone plan you are on, the highest-priced one, or a free mobile service, you can look up anything you want on that handheld device. Say you are out with friends at the bar, and a question is asked you may not know the answer to. Thankfully, with your smartphone, you can fact-check anything.
Similarly, while you are out with friends, if you want to take a group picture, you can do that with your smartphone. Many people today choose their phones based on how good the camera is so they can always have a camera available for important moments.
Along with capturing pictures, there is also the option to record a video with a smartphone—no need to carry around extra equipment. Smartphones have not effectively brought about the demise of the camcorder. Most smartphones even have the option to record a video in slow-motion or time-lapse. Some have cinematic effects that add a professional look to the videos.
Ease of Transportation
If you are a person who is directionally challenged, that is no longer an issue, thanks to smartphones. There is no need for paper maps or constantly asking for directions anymore. Most smartphones have the added feature of navigational apps where all you need to know is the address or the name of the business you want to go to, and it will lead you right to it.
Quick Entertainment
Smartphones have also brought about countless ways of immediate entertainment for you. Your phone can double as an e-book reader with the ability to download books straight to your phone, where you can read or listen to them.
You can also listen to music on your phone. No need to bring another device to listen to music like in the past, but now everything is there in the palm of your hand. Anything you may want to listen to, whether that be music, podcasts, or audiobooks, you have the ability to do that at basically no cost to you. All you may need to pay for is a subscription to a service such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Spotify.
Financial Transition
The use of cash to pay for things has been rapidly declining. The need to carry around a physical wallet has also become less popular. Many smartphones have either Apple Pay or Google Pay, which allows you to buy products by simply holding your smartphone near the payment terminal in-store or using it online. They have also made it easier to make peer-to-peer payments by using apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle. It is much more convenient than writing a check or going to the ATM to get cash.
Not only can your smartphone make purchasing things and paying bills more accessible, but they have also made it simpler to check your various accounts. Most banks these days have apps you can download onto your phone to consistently track your spending daily.
Social Media Growth
It is no surprise that as the use of smartphones has grown, so has the use of social media. There are many social media outlets to choose from, and with your smartphone in hand, it is easier to catch up on the latest updates in your friends and family’s lives.
Beyond social media, smartphones have also made staying connected to your loved ones easier. With the ability to video call, conversations can feel more meaningful, being able to see their faces. This has also caused home phones to become obsolete, but if you had to choose between talking on a house phone or video calling on your smartphone, most would choose the video call.
It is clear that smartphones have altered our lives drastically. With all the tools available to us through various apps, it is no wonder they have grown in popularity.