Children and moblie phones
The fastest growing group of mobile phone users is children and young people. This growth is encouraged by mobile phone companies which have lots of benefits from selling phones to children. For example children are mostly interested in such additional appliances, as video-camera, mp3- player, that modern mobile phones have.
Experts warn that parents should ensure their children use mobile phones only when the mobile phone is absolutely necessary because of the potential health risks. They should limit children’s unnecessary use of mobile phones. At the same time there is still no proof mobile phones are unsafe. No one can say exactly whether mobile phones are dangerous or not. But because of the fact that they have been used for a relatively short time and the possibility of health risks still remains. The use of mobile phones should be forbidden for children under eight years old. It is recommended for parents who have children aged between 8 and 14 make their own judgments about the risks and benefits of mobile phone’s usage. There is no absolute evidence now that a mobile phone causes some serious illnesses but various studies have raised serious concerns. If these risks really exist, children are people who will mostly be affected. The younger children are, the greater danger is.
German study has hinted at an increase in cancer around base stations, while a project supported by the European Union had shown evidence of cell damage from fields typical of those of mobile phones.
According to the latest researches the risk of ear tumors increases by four times for people who use mobile phones ten years or more. The researchers that took place in Britain showed that the radiation of mobile phones was able to damage DNA in human cells.
90 % of schoolchildren have mobile phones worldwide. But most of them as well as their parents ignore the fact that there are some unknown effects of microwave radiation that are made by phones. This radiation greatly effects on developing brains. An average child spends up to 45 minutes a day making calls. Certain researches that took place among 1000 pupils have shown that 941 of them are children under 16 years old. 77% of children use their phone for less than 15 minutes a day, about 5 % of children use their mobile phones for more than 45 minutes but only 11% of young generation realize a bad influence of a mobile phone on their health. Text messages are sent and received by 96% of the children surveyed.
But of course it is up to parents to decide whether to buy a mobile phone for their children. They ( parents) must weigh up and compare the possibility of still unknown health risks with the security benefits to children, carrying a mobile.
Let us think why mobile phones are so popular among children:
- first of all mobile phones give them the sense of ownership;
- children can use mobiles where and when they like;
- young users can portray an image to others;
- many phones are provided with breathtaking games , music, Internet access;
- lots of mobile phones can be used as digital cameras, radios, mp3- players and so on;
- owning a mobile phone for some children provides a status among friends;
- a mobile phone gives a child constant communication with friends and relatives. As we all know all children enjoy communications.
The benefits or immediate communication is a necessity: we feel safer when we know that our child can contact if he is in trouble. All in all the use of a mobile phone is convenient.
But when the mobile phone becomes not just an essential item for communication but instead something that takes control of a child’s life parents have a right to be worried ( if for example teenagers can do nothing but sitting by their mobile phones, waiting for calls or text messages).
If you are thinking of buying your child a mobile phone try to set some rules to your child such as:
When they can use it;
Who to give a phone number to;
How it will be funded;
Only to reply to people your child knows.
At that very moment we have no exact things to worry about. We should know the measure in all and do abuse the use of mobile phone and then everything will be all right.