Not too long ago, many of us
saw teens and even pre-teens walking around and talking on a cell phone or
texting with the single thought of, "That child is too young for a cell phone."
Nowadays, that mentality has largely changed. More and more parents are
providing cell phones to their kids largely for the purpose of safety. Consider
Columbine and other such instances where kids were able to call their parents or
911 when in danger to get the help they needed.
Of course, parents also are buying their kids cell phones for other reasons,
such as to keep tabs on them more easily as they become older and more mobile,
and sometimes even so they can keep pace with the electronics their friends
have. Often it is not for one reason but multiple reasons that parents buy their
kids cell phones, and these combined reasons make the often nominal monthly fee
for the phone worthwhile. In fact, because of the many benefits associated with
cell phones, it is not just teens and pre-teens who have their own phone now but
often even elementary kids who carry these in their pants pocket or backpack,
too.
Unfortunately, there are some dangers associated with kids and cell phones that
you may not be aware of. While you may not change your mind about allowing your
child to have his or her own cell phone, you should be aware of the dangers. In
some cases, you may be able to help minimize the dangers to your child.
Bullying. Bullying with cell phones is becoming more common among kids and
teens. Often this is done more with texting than with voice features. You can
work to minimize bullying by monitoring your child's messages and blocking
numbers where necessary.
Predators. Sometimes a child is at risk with a cell phone not because of those
he or she knows but because of those he or she does know. Predators can gain
access to a child's phone in numerous ways, including through social networking
sites or even dialing a number by accident in some cases. Maintaining vigilance
over phone use and talking to your child about predators can serve as preventive
measures.
While Driving. It's no surprise that texting, talking on the phone, surfing the
web, and messing around with apps while driving can be truly dangerous for those
of all ages. With teens, however, this danger is combined with a general lack of
experience behind the wheel, which can make for a very dangerous combination
indeed.
Sexual Promiscuity. By now, many parents have heard about "sexting," which
involves sending or receiving suggestive or provocative messages, photos, or
videos. Keep in mind that if you want to ensure your child isn't involved in
these activities, you do want to monitor both the inbox, sent items, and deleted
items of his or her phone's text message center.
Health Risks. We have all heard that cell phones cause cancer, and most of us
have written that notion off entirely. Yet more and more studies are being
conducted and the results seem to be leaning more towards the factual truth of
this belief. Whether you believe the studies now or need more proof, you can buy
your child a hands free headset to minimize risk of exposure.
Depression and Anxiety. In the "old days" when we are parents were kids, our
social lives consisted of hanging out with friends, going to parties, meeting a
park or other neighborhood venue to play, joining sports teams, and more.
Nowadays, between social networking sites as well as texting and chat, a large
portion of kids' social lives has become less social and far less personal.
Studies have shown a link between depression and anxiety and the increased
presence of electronics in our relationships. You can encourage kids to stop
texting and pick up the phone, or better yet actually visit with a friend face
to face.