Cell phone safety is important for everyone. However, with the rise of cell phone use in children (the average age of first-time cell phone users in the US is between twelve and thirteen), it’s especially important to focus on cell phone safety for kids.
According to the European Multimedia Forum (EMF) journal, many countries have taken steps to ensure children are using cell phones safely:
- The United Kingdom issued a limitation on use by children under 12.
- In France, no children under 16 can use cell phones and it is illegal to advertise to children under 12.
- In both Israel and Russia, cell phone use is banned for children under the age of 12.
- Japan has general limitations on cell phone use for anyone under the age of 18.
While most of these countries seem to believe cell phone use is affecting children’s health, there aren’t any studies confirming that as true. So while it never hurts to be cautious, we’ve got a few other tips that can help you keep your children safe from proven problems with cell phones:
- Monitor – Cyberbullying is a sad, but true, issue today. Monitor your child’s cell phone use to make sure they aren’t a giver or receiver of bullying.
- Regulate – Make sure teens are clear that cell phones and driving do not mix. NO texting while driving and only allow calls when using a hands-free device.
- Educate – Let your children (especially pre-teens and tweens) know why they have a cell phone. If it’s only to be used to contact Mom and Dad, make that clear—and establish penalties for breaking that rule.
These are our tips for safe cell phone use—do you have any to add to the list? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Tags: cell phone safety, children and cell phones, handsfree, responsible mobile phone use, texting
