What Your Pinky Says About Your Phone Use and Why You Should Cut Back
By Movieguide® Contributor
Prolonged screen time not only affects the mind but can have a noticeable effect on the body as well, as the recent “phone pinky” TikTok trend exposes.
In several viral videos, Gen Zers compare their normal pinkies to their other ones that are either bent or dented due to their pinky holding the weight of their phones for extended periods of time.
TikToker girlboss4lyfe can be seen in a car comparing both pinkies with one more curved than the other.
“I think I win this trend,” she captioned in a viral video that has 1.5 million views
“IT FEELS SOOOOO different than the other #iphonepinky,” Galalee posted in a video showing her dented digit.
@galaleee IT FEELS SOOOOO different than the other #iphonepinky
Since the start of the trend, there have been over 163 million posts regarding the topic according to Bustle magazine.
Despite the hullabaloo, most of the cases “don’t highlight a problem” and “show typical pinky anatomy, which can vary widely,” orthopedic surgeon Dr. Peter Evans said.
However, there are more serious conditions that can arise from people’s phone dependency.
“Constant cellphone use can cause a range of joint problems,” Evans said. “While some claims of injury might be overstated, others are real and involve serious, long-term damage.”
One of those ailments is cubital tunnel syndrome or “smartphone elbow.” It’s caused by holding elbows at a ninety-degree angle for long periods of time, which is the position most users hold their phones while texting. The syndrome can cause numbness and shooting pain in the forearm as well as the fourth and pinky fingers.
“Overuse can aggravate underlying conditions, like arthritis, or cause new problems in the thumb tendons,” Evans said.
Prolonged phone use can also lead to neck problems and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Christynne Helfrich, PT, DPT, OCS, a physical therapist at Hinge Health, says good ergonomics are important to preventing phone pinky. Helfrich suggests “finding an adjustment or use an external attachment” such as a PopSocket or phone stand “to help improve your holding technique.”
“The size of your phone might also affect your hand hold, so look into something that might suit your anatomy better, like a smaller device that fits in your hand, or maybe a tablet that you can hold with two hands,” Helfrich told Bustle.
The most viable solution is to limit phone use — “break it down into shorter 10- to 15-minute chunks” — according to the magazine.
“Taking frequent breaks and putting your phone down will decrease the amount of time you’re putting pressure on the area, says Helfrich, and it’ll help prevent your phone pinky from getting worse,” Carolyn Steber wrote.
Movieguide® reported on the effects of phone addiction and how people are trying to combat it:
Phone addiction can have some serious side effects. Some of them are depression, sleep issues, anxiety, stress and relationship and communication problems.
A study published by “Frontiers in Psychology” found that those who were addicted to their phones also had low self-esteem. And on the other hand, it found that those who had high self-esteem were not phone addicts.
Relevant points out that the bright side of the Harmony study is that most people are aware of their phone addiction.
“Perhaps that’s why 40% said they’re trying to make themselves less reliant on their phones in 2024 by cutting down on screen time. A 2023 study found that going on a digital detox can not only improve your mental health, it can lead to more excitement in your real life,” Relevant said.
