Published: March 24, 2026, 11:02 PM
Apple created one of the most compelling technology products of all time in the iPhone, and it quite literally changed the world. Its influences on people and society haven`t been 100% positive, though, as experts agree that people spend too much time on their phones. Now, Apple CEO Tim Cook has joined in to say people should put their phones down and go outside.
"I don`t want people using them too much," he said on Good Morning America. "I don`t want people looking at the smartphone more than they`re looking in someone`s eyes. Because if they`re just scrolling endlessly--this is not the way you want to spend your day. Go out and spend it in nature."
Stanford`s Maris Loeffler said the negative effects of screen time are "insidious." She said negative effects of excessive screen time would be "minimal" if people didn`t do it often. "But if it becomes a habit, day after day, month after month, this behavior can take a toll," she explained.
Studies have shown that increased screen time can negatively impact learning, memory, and mental health, and contribute to early neurodegeneration. Too much screen time can also negatively impact sleep, while other studies have shown that people who spend too much time on their phones can decrease their gray matter volume, which impacts many different human functions.
As for the next slate of iPhones, Apple is widely expected to release new iPhones in September as it historically does each year, and this year`s lineup could include the first foldable iPhone.
You can do pretty much anything on an iPhone, including play games. Apple Arcade is the company`s video game subscription service; it costs $7/month and provides access to a catalog of ad-free games that can be played offline.
