Nowadays, mobile phones are important accessories that may even save lives as in the case of Haiti. These gadgets have become so part of our lives that it is hard to imagine doing without the convenience of getting connected easily. It is not surprising, therefore, that some mobile phones are designed for use by children. It appears that there is a strong demand for mobile phones in the children’s market. Many children actually have their very own mobile phones. Parents provide their children with mobile phones so that they may easily contact or monitor them.
Mobile phones for children is forecasted to be an important gadget for young kids. In fact, technological innovations have created designs and models for children even as young as five. You will be amazed that children with mobile phones are very adept in using them, even more than the adults.
At present, the mobile phones for children market is getting more in demand, with a 17% increase in children owning their own phones. This was concluded in a survey interviewing children from age seven to ten years old. The present ratio is one in four kids owns and uses a mobile phone.
It is easy to conclude that the rising trend of mobile phone ownership among kids is a result of an intensive campaign by mobile phone issuers. They are now reaching to young market to expand their sales, despite the fact that they have an enormous consumer base. Just about everyone has a cell phone and competition is very stiff among the many providers. However, the question is, are children ready to have their own mobile phones? The responsibility may be too much for them for after all, mobile phones can be valuable and must not be easily lost or broken. Children play and get easily distracted. Moreover, a mobile phone can be channels for unpleasant images or messages that young kids should not be exposed to at all. All these concerns may be solved depending on the kind of mobile phone you will buy for your kid. Perhaps it is best to invest on a cheaper make with good features. Young kids do not really need additional features like a camera or a radio.
Your primary motive in giving your kids their own mobile phones is that you can easily contact them ad make sure they are safe. Many cell phone manufacturers take advantage of this and target young kids even as young as four years old, by putting a GPS tracker on the units for parents to access. These phones are said to be child-proof, meaning that its features and services is limited to what the child needs. For example, there is not much texting or downloading and even no screen. This will protect kids from receiving or saving unacceptable images like pornographic or violent materials. There is even an added feature that allows parents to listen to conversations so that you can ensure that the conversation is child-friendly.
If you are concerned about radiation, then these mobile phones for children have 10 times less emission compared to your standard mobile phone.
Naturally, mobile phones for kids may have its advantages but also its disadvantages. There is still the question on the medical side effects. Ear problems is believed to develop in prolonged use of mobile phones. Although the Australian Centre for Radio Frequency Bioeffects Research made an official statement that mobile phones do not cause cancer as well as the World Health Organization, the Swedish National Institute for Working Life in a study conducted in 2006 discovered a link between prolonged cell phone use with the appearance of brain tumors. These studies naturally need further testing and verification.
However, if we were to set aside the medical concerns, there are also social consequences. For instance, the dynamics of the communication between parent and child may be altered as well as with peers. A child may no longer feel motivated to make friends at school, knowing that she could always call mom if she feels lonesome. There is also the temptation to replace physical presence with mobile connection like a parent need not be there to fetch the child since they could easily make sure the driver gets the child from school. For sure, there are drawbacks in exposing kids early to mobile phones, more so if you will choose a standard mobile phone with many features that are intended for adults. The only remedy may be is to limit its use, perhaps only when it is really needed.