The Cell Phone and the Paranormal Investigation

Cell phones, the zombie apocalypse of our time. You can't leave home without it and it's the Swiss Army Knife of technology. We have it at all times and honestly there is no changing that, but when it comes to the investigation? Leave it at your "base command" if at all possible.

Recently I posted the unpopular opinion on Facebook that cell phones don't belong on paranormal investigations and the responses show that the perspective of phones aren't considered fully. (Boy was it a doozy of a response!) Here are some things to consider:

*If you are in a small location where you are not walking far from your "base" and you have investigators watching during your session, leave it at "base command". Depending on where your base is you may want to turn it on Airplane mode in case it interferes with cameras or other equipment. If you do not put it in Airplane mode, silence it and do not leave it on vibrate. Remember that the vibration has a sound and can also be picked up by recording devices.

*If you are needing to walk a distance from your "base command" take your phone but leave it on Airplane mode. The GPS will still work so you can be found if something happens and you do not know where you are but you are not contaminating your investigation with notification and vibration sounds. Airplane mode also decreases the chances that your phone signal will compromise your other equipment data and it still allows you to make a call in case of emergency.

*But there's an app for that. I get asked a lot about phone applications and investigations, we don't use them on our investigations and we will not encourage their usage (we have used them in informal settings for entertainment purposes only). Do not be fooled into thinking there is an app that will find you the holy grail of paranormal evidence. They are created with limitations and in a certain way to make you come back for more. Through the years I've encountered so many situations where certain investigators refuse to do the work that can legitimately validate their data but they share phone application responses like it's gospel. In all things if you do decide to use them, you will need various other pieces of data to validate the findings. Note: If you are not tech savvy you may not be aware of all the components of how the application was created. There is an increased likelihood that the application will pick up on your cues in order to facilitate a certain outcome.

I have done quite a few paranormal investigations and ghost hunts in my time, there is nothing more annoying than someone's phone making noises just when things are getting interesting (except flashlight beams in my eyes and people not saying flash before blinding you with their camera). Not only can it destroy the entire session, it also makes the entire session seem like we are not serious and we look like a bunch of fools. As a leader I also see a lot of people who are addicted to their phone not able to leave it alone. Having that phone in your pocket is distracting (trust me I know). Cell phones can effect A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, so why not leave the element you don't need out of it? If you are a serious paranormal investigator purchase equipment that was created for the purpose of what you are using it for, that way there is nothing lost in analysis and you know without a doubt the equipment's capabilities. My recommendation is to leave your cell phone at base if you can and put all your attention on the investigation.

Rebecca Boyer

Co-Founder/ Case Manager

Antietam Paranormal Society