Excessive phone scrolling has significant consequences on our bodies, according to Newstalk Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly. 

New research has shown that phone users scroll through the equivalent of three miles of websites and messages every year.  

Jess told Newstalk Breakfast this is “essentially scrolling to the top of the Spire every week” as we scroll through 13.2 metres of content every day.  

Jess said this excessive scrolling is having significant consequences on our bodies.  

“The physical act of scrolling is giving people phone claw or text claw, as it's called,” she said.  

Text claw is officially known as carpal tunnel syndrome - it is caused by pressure on the nerves in the wrist and leads to tingling, numbness and pain in the hand and fingers. 

Jess also said the blue light emitted from phone screens is damaging to the eyes: “It is going to cause eyestrain - it is going to disrupt your sleep.” 

“Not natural” 

She said phones are not designed in a way that is suitable for human bodies: “The man who made that first phone call said there's going to need to be design changes with smartphones, because it's not a natural thing for us to do. 

“They don't fit the sort of shape of our heads. They're damaging for our eyes, our heads, our hands and all the rest.” 

Jess said the solution may be to have an increase in the use of smartwatches or "embedded technology". Embedded technology are miniature electronics that plug people into computer and communication networks such as contact lenses that act as computer screens. 

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