Fade to Play

In Tuesday’s Toronto Star there is an article by Robert Cribb and Tyler Hamilton.

It is part of a larger series of articles that discuss possible health related issues with mobile phones and whether mobile phones are safe for children.

Many children interviewed for the study, called Future of the Internet According to Kids, said the major allure of cellphones is their “cool” factor.

“They’re a status symbol,” says Patricia Camp, senior research analyst with Milwaukee-based SpectraCom, which interviewed 933 young people, aged 8 to 14, from across the United States, Canada and Europe. The survey is considered accurate within plus or minus 3 1/2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The survey shows that young cellphone users spend an average of two hours a day talking on the devices, mostly to parents and friends. That level of daily cellphone chatter among young people is a growing concern to some scientists who see unanswered questions about the long-term health impact of wireless signals, particularly on children, because of their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems.

Relevance: As mobile phone companies, game providers, and advertisers continue to create content and devices for children, this article discusses how canadian companies are tailoring their products to children.