Increasing Market Trend in Kids Cell Phones Trigger Alarm on Health Issue
The moment cellphone magnates started tapping into parents’ homing instincts on their children; sales have been up on the fly. Back in 2005, Firefly by Cingular led the way and, soon after, others jumped on the bandwagon. Today families have a whole range of kids cellphones to choose from.
Growth of the Technology and the Market
When mobile carriers first thought of the idea, they realized that they had to make parents believe that cellphones for kids are necessity. The selling point was to enable them to keep in constant touch. Parents are so busy and so are kids and the only way to bridge the distance is through mobile phones.
Most kids cellphones had the basic features such as voice calls and text alerts which were all that parents ever needed to keep in touch. In response to parents’ never-ending safety concerns for their kids, mobile phone companies had to make parents feel assured that they’re still in control. Parent phones allowed for remote management of kids’ handsets by setting limits to usage, controlling phonebook contents and screening of incoming and outgoing calls, among others.
The rapid pace of telecommunications technology fueled further the evolution of mobile phone services for kids. All of a sudden, parents also sought the power of GPS to monitor their children’s comings and goings. Children’s handsets have likewise progressed into more sophisticated models, carrying such features as customizable ring tones and wallpapers, internet connection, music, camera and the works.
More and more kids clamored for their very own handsets. More and more parents became convinced of the “felt need”.
Statistics
Based on market projections of Massachusetts-based International Data Corp., there will be 31 million teens and tweens in the US who will jump into the kids cellphones craze in the period starting 2005 up to 2010. Already, the age of neophyte mobile users has been pegged on the average at 10 years old based on 2007 data. The average age continues to drop annually.
Health Repercussions
With the advent of this remarkable trend, alarmists cannot help but wonder if cellphones are really safe for children. Mobile phone companies have been dodging the health issue and focusing attention on security. But they couldn’t control the spreading of anxious discussions on the negative impact to health of radio frequency radiation.
Studies on the matter turn out to be inconclusive. But these studies do not disprove at all the potential health risks of cellphone radiation. Some experts are thus compelled to warn the public to use cellphones with caution.
Parents Speak
Parents, however, have other pressing issues in mind regarding kids cellphones. They are more concerned as to whether these are appropriate training ground for children to become responsible consumers. For them, health issues are a remote possibility. GP
Posted in Kids Cell Phones on October 5, 2008 - 12:34 pm by admin |
