Smartphone Addiction Is Harmful

(Minghui.org) I used to have an ordinary cellphone. However, in 2018, my son gave me his unused smartphone, saying it was convenient for accessing the Internet. He taught me how to make calls, send messages, view the messaging app WeChat, and send videos. It felt good to be able to do these things, and I slowly became proficient at using the phone.

After a while, I became addicted to WeChat. Whenever I had time, I checked it to see if anyone sent me anything or I reviewed new messages. I also had to check it after coming back from studying the Fa. I frequently sent WeChat messages to people to chat and talk. I sometimes went to bed very late because I used the app so much.

Master warned us,

“Some people say that recreational drug use is no big deal and that it seems harmless. And sure, people feel pretty good when they try it. What if they do it again? There’s no apparent problem. How about one more time? Then their self-control starts to erode. But why is that? When that substance is inhaled, inside of your body it forms a very thin and light version of you. One hit is all it takes, since it’s highly poisonous. And with the second hit, that version of you that was thin and light grows a bit denser. And it will continue to get denser with each subsequent hit, growing stronger and sturdier. It will have the full structure of your body as well as thinking, and be an entirely drug-induced and demonic version of you.” (Fa Teaching at the 2019 New York Fa Conference, Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XV)

One day, I felt extremely dizzy; it felt like the world was spinning, and I began vomiting. My grandson and I were the only ones at home. I was miserable, so I called my daughter-in-law, who practices Falun Dafa. I asked her to send righteous thoughts for me.

I could not get up because any movement made me vomit. I sent righteous thoughts while lying down. With Master’s protection and my fellow practitioner’s support, I felt better in a couple of hours. I was grateful for Master’s protection and overcame that tribulation.

After this happened, I began to seriously look within. Through my celestial eye I saw a logo on my arm—the WeChat logo. I understood that using the app triggered this tribulation because I was attached to WeChat. I immediately stopped using my smartphone and went back to using my old phone.

I know a couple who practice Falun Dafa, and the husband is addicted to smartphones. He likes to check the news on his phone, seldom does the exercises or studies the Fa, and barely does the three things, including saving people. His behavior is so dangerous! I hope those with a similar attachment will quickly realize the danger they are in. The old forces may seize on those who have this loophole and persecute them.

This is my understanding after going through a tribulation.