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It’s your call now

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HAZARDOUS HANDSET? While more research has to be done to prove this, it’s best for parents to limit their children’s cell phone use

The ubiquitous handset is once again in the limelight for the wrong reasons. The mobile phone, literally a style statement and an indispensable gadget for every trendy teenager these days, has grabbed centre stage with questions raised on how prudent it is on the part of parents to give them the gadget.

A recent pilot study by the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, where rats were subjected to radiation from mobile phones showed damaged DNA and low sperm count leading to infertility. Whether this is true for humans too is yet to be proved but the Ministry of Telecommunication has chosen to play it safe, by advising reduced use of mobile phones, especially by children and pregnant women.

Seeing children (even as young as 10) carrying mobile phones, some of which are not just practical handsets but exotic models capable of multiple functions, is not uncommon these days. In most cases, children are provided phones to enable their parents to contact them easily. While this may seem justified, what is often overlooked is that children often misuse the facility. Besides, its adverse effect on health is a subject of growing concern among experts.

Does this mean children below 16 should not be allowed to have unlimited access to mobiles. Are parents making a mistake, providing their children with these gadgets?Says Vidya Mulky, economist and mother of two teenagers, “Denial kindles craving which could push children into undesirable ways. To avoid this, they could be given phones, but at the same time taught to use them responsibly. Besides providing a phone makes it easy to have access to your child, which is important.” As for misuse, she contends that it could be prevented by providing a basic handset sans multiple features.

However, Dr. Gopalakrishna, chairman, NPS Group has a different take on this. “Parents, anxious about their children’s safety, provide them with mobiles to ensure they can contact them easily. Unfortunately, this freedom is misused by children, especially when fancy handsets are provided. Parents, by and large, lack knowledge about the negative health aspects or are passive about it.”

According to him, when children see their peers carrying exotic phones, they pester their parents to provide them with similar if not fancier models. Rejecting the argument parents put forth that giving to children’s demands helps quell their cravings, he says it only indicates a lack of understanding of adolescent minds. “Children at that age tend to get addicted and misled. Not all of them can handle a cell phone responsibly and this only leads to more problems,” he says.

Smitha Dubey, mother of two teenagers concurs. “The mobile culture has only compounded the difficulties of raising teenagers. Children are provided with fancy mobiles by parents who fail to realise that they can be misused. Unlimited access prompts them to spend hours talking or messaging at the cost of study time. Invariably these children are given mobiles when there is no serious need for them.”

Says Dr. Gopalakrishna, “Sensitising parents to the ills of mobile phone use does not always evoke a positive response. Banning the use of phones during school hours helps to a certain extent but does not solve the problem, as children have access to their handsets after school hours.”

He feels that a ban imposed by the government on the use of mobile phones by children below 16 would help tackle the problem, both from the health and social perspective.

Ananditha, mother of a 19-year-old, however, advocates the middle path. “Parents should make mobiles available to children only if the situation warrants it, especially when there is a need to maintain contact with the child. While doing so, the level of use by the child should be strictly monitored in terms of talk time provided as well the kind of handset made available.”

While opinions on children using mobiles can be as diverse as the features the various handsets offer, one thing is obvious. Parents would do well to exercise caution when providing their children with mobile phones, and should be aware of how it could impact them.

HANDY TIPS

A basic handset sans multiple features can help prevent misuse.

The level of use should be strictly monitored.

Awareness of how excessive cell phone use could impact health is essential

Parents should think twice before succumbing to pester power.

Care should be taken when choosing models.

A government ban on use of mobiles by children aged below sixteen would help prevent misuse.

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