Don’t Toss It: Repairing Broken Cell Phones

Cell phone ownership has increased rapidly – and now almost all Americans own one. Beyond that, smartphone ownership has more than doubled in less than a decade with 77% of Americans having a smartphone. With how prevalent they are in our everyday lives, our smartphones can go through some stupid accidents. Falling from pockets, getting knocked off tables, and falling into toilet water are just some of the everyday accidents that can cause destruction. The smart move is to repair your smartphone, saving your tech while saving your money.

The most common forms of smartphone damage are cracked screens, scratches, and battery malfunctions. In 2018, nearly two American smartphone screens broke every second. Damaged screens can prevent people from sending or reading emails, taking photos, or even from unlocking the screen. A screen protector may not be the most fashionable statement, with 48% of smartphone owners saying they don’t use one because they don’t like how it looks, but it’s an easy way to avoid accidental structural damage. If your phone does happen to get damaged, don’t head to the Apple store right away for the newest upgrade. Instead, fixing the damage yourself or through independent repair shops can save money and can save a phone from being one of the 350,000 cell phones that are thrown away in America per day. 

Smartphones have become essential to much of modern life. It’s a piece of technology that is able to connect us with others, direct us to new places, and provide information all while fitting in your back pocket. While 95% of U.S. adults aged 18-29 own a smartphone, many people own multiple devices. It’s become a regular way of life to constantly be surrounded by smart devices, as well as to feel anxious when not. “Nomophobia” is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact or being offline. When surveyed, two in three people admitted to anxiety when away from their phone. It is as if when our phones aren’t functioning, neither are we. Russel Clayton, co-author of “The Extended iSelf: The Impact of iPhone Separation on Cognition, Emotion, and Physiology,” described smartphones as being “capable of becoming an extension of ourselves,” making it easier to understand the need for people to constantly upgrade their phones for the security of knowing it will work. 

The psychological feelings people have towards their smartphone is not only because of the connections that it enables users to gain but also the convenience in gaining information. Mobile phones can be critical to performing tasks. They also can help browse job listings, contact potential employers, fill out job applications, and even create resumes. When a smartphone is broken, it is limiting a resource that can help several areas of life and shrinking the chances of being a part of the 1.3 billion more mobile connections than there are people in the world.

When you toss out your smartphone, you’re tossing out a lot of your money along with it. Next time your phone falls out of your pocket and cracks, try repairing it yourself with online tutorials. If that’s too tricky, visit a repair shop. Not only will it save you money, but it will save you from adding to the thousands of phones wasted. If you’ve never experienced a broken phone, stay smart and take care and precautions to keep it that way. To learn more about tech separation and why you should repair your phone over replacing it, check out the infographic below.