Could anyone imagine a dozen years ago that seeing a toddler playing with a mobile phone would become regular practice? The rapid development of modern technologies has led to cases when young children get their first mobile phones soon after taking their first steps. However, such increased use of cellular phones by children under 10 is an alarming phenomenon that can lead to numerous further issues. I believe that young children should not own cell phones due to possible health problems, behavioral issues, and degraded future academic performance.
The health issues related to mobile phones are an obvious concern, which is additionally aggravated by the vulnerability of a child’s body. Several recent studies showed that “RF radiation in the frequency range 30 kHz–300 GHz is a Group 2B possible human carcinogen” (Hardell, 2017, p. 137). The resulting impact of mobile phones on the rate of cancers and neurological diseases is still to be researched, and the risk for children should not currently be considered acceptable. Excessive phone use before going to bed can also lead to sleep problems. Finally, preschoolers, largely using electronic media, tend to have substandard physical fitness and increased obesity rates (Poulain et al., 2018). Therefore, the health concerns related to mobile phones make their use strictly inadvisable.
Besides physical health issues, mobile phones exert a significant influence on the psycho-social health and well-being of children. Research showed that the use of cell phones significantly increased the possibility of further hyperactivity and inattention problems (Poulain et al., 2018). Moreover, such hyperactivity levels can lead to the development of attention deficit disorders. The probable reasons for such influence include overstimulating the brain and exposing it to the excessive flow of information. In addition, modern communication means often replace direct personal contacts, essential for developing correct social behavior patterns. As a result, children get more social behavior problems, which can become an issue throughout their lives.
Finally, the use of mobile phones can also lead to degraded academic performance. The growing addiction to mobile phones turns into a distracting factor, not allowing young school children to concentrate on their classes. A survey conducted in Abu-Dhabi demonstrated that those children who reported spending much time online often had lower performance in their primary classes (Badri et al., 2016). Such negative influence is a strong argument against mobile phones and should not be ignored.
It is evident that the negative impact of cell phones on children’s health and development is a critical issue requiring serious consideration. The rapid growth of new communication means leaves significant aspects still to be investigated, and the first studies reveal some alarming results. Would it be acceptable to risk the lives and well-being of young children, who are the future of any family and any country, by allowing them to play with their cell phones? I believe that such a risk should not be taken, as the price may be too high. Therefore, all parents should seriously think of not allowing their children to own their cell phones and only give it to them when it becomes vital.
References
Badri, M., Alnuaimi, A., Al Rashedi, A., Yang, G., & Temsah, K. (2016). School children’s use of digital devices, social media, and parental knowledge and involvement – the case of Abu Dhabi.Education and Information Technologies, 22(5), 2645–2664. Web.
Hardell, L. (2017). Effects of mobile phones on children’s and adolescents’ health: A commentary.Child Development, 89(1), 137–140. Web.
Poulain, T., Vogel, M., Neef, M., Abicht, F., Hilbert, A., Genuneit, J., Körner, A., & Kiess, W. (2018). Reciprocal associations between electronic media use and behavioral difficulties in preschoolers.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(4), 1–13. Web.