May 2006 Newsletter

Cell Phone Safety -- Must-Know for Parents

Cell phones have become a part of our everyday lives. Not only are our adult daily lives busy and hectic, but so also are our children’s, with schedules full of swim meets, soccer games, extra curricular activities, jobs, etc. Cell phones have gone from status symbols in their early days to being ubiquitous. Cell phone companies even have family plans to help us keep our costs down while helping us to keep in touch via the airwaves. The Yankee Group estimates that nearly 2/3 of U.S. children ages 10-19 already have cell phones! (The U.S. is certainly not alone either. It is estimated that 80% of high school and 25% of Jr. High students in Japan have cells, the majority of Britain’s 7-16 year olds have cells as well as 75% of teens in Scandinavia).

Cell phone safety concerns have mostly been focused around driver safety, but in Europe and Japan cell phones have been linked to harassment and sexual exploitations of both children and adults. Driver safety is still and should remain a real concern, since the distraction factor while driving and talking with or without a hands-free calling device is very high (40% of the brain’s visual cortex is engaged which severely limits one’s attention to the surroundings).

Parents need to talk with their children about proper and safe use of cell phones. Cell phones, like the Internet, have literally put the world in our children’s hands. On a positive note: a cell phone is both a great communication and safety tool. In addition to keeping up with friends, a child can use it to check in with parents, respond to parent’s calls and phone for help in an emergency. While some parent’s may still perceive it as privilege, it has really become a necessary modern-day tool to help us maintain and keep us in communication with our children, especially when they are out at night. (Important side note: I frequently speak on college campuses and am always met with an overwhelming response from female co-eds who think they are actually safer talking on their cell to a boyfriend, parent or roommate while they are walking to or from some destination. Remember, the visual cortex is engaged and you cannot be 100% focused on your surroundings when talking on a cell! Additionally, it is a false sense of security thinking that you will be able to tell whoever you are talking with that you are in danger and have them get help to you. It simply won’t happen. Rather, use your cell when you get into a building or in a locked vehicle to call someone to let him or her know you are now safe. When walking, give 100% of your attention to your surroundings, it’s safer!)

Cells offer a host of options: pictures, Internet access, music downloading, digital imagery, etc. You can instantly transmit photos from cell to cell via e-mail, or to websites, even record moving videos. The latest 3rd generation high speed networks are making it practical to download graphics, photo and video along with sound and text! A color screen means that your child can look at the same type of graphic content available on the ‘fixed’ Internet from home. A built-in digital camera also means that your child cannot only see inappropriate material, but can send it as well. Adults and children alike need to be extremely cautious about the way they use this technology, especially when sharing digital photos.

It’s even possible to post pictures instantly to the web for all to see. By accidentally pushing an incorrect button one can send a child’s image, cell number and mobile email address to the wrong person. Some gyms have actually banned cell phones in locker rooms because of concerns about inappropriate photographs.

Predators cannot only send messages to kids, but they can also call them to arrange meetings. Children can be accessed by phone while away from home and are particularly vulnerable since they can be out of their parents’ supervision. According to Childnet International, in Europe it is quite common for a child predator to ‘groom’ a child on the Internet and then contact them via a cell phone to arrange a face-to-face meeting. Authorities are seeing the same behavior with predators here in the States as well. The user of a cell phone is not necessarily anonymous either because of caller ID and that means that calls and text messaging whether sent or received are providing important proprietary contact information.

In Britain, a survey conducted by a child-advocacy organization found that cell phones appear to be the most commonly abused medium with 16% of teens receiving bullying or threatening text messages, followed by 7% who have been harassed in internet chat-rooms and 4% via e-mail. If your child experiences harassing calls or text messages, consider calling your provider and getting the number changed.

Recently the FTC has mandated that phones be equipped with ‘geo location’ systems designed to make it possible for others to pinpoint exactly where the phone is located. The main purpose of this system is to allow 911 operators to locate cell phone callers in case of emergency, but this also means that with planned commercial uses of this technology, businesses can offer location-based products and services to cell phone users. While privacy safeguards will be built in, this means that they will also be able to be defeated. These products are currently hitting the market place and available now. Adults and children need to be educated about the proper and safe use of these controls so they can’t be used for harmful or wrong purposes.

Last but not least, there is the issue of cell usage costs. A child can easily run up incredibly high bills if they don’t completely understand the parameters of usage and stay within purchased plan limits. Make sure charges related to all aspects of usage, including free/unlimited usage (weekends and nights), text messaging, web access, ring tone/ music downloading, screen savers, etc. are fully understood, and contract with your child about it’s usage and limits. One option is to get them a prepaid phone service that operates on prepaid dollar limits.

An important safety note: Even a phone that stops working due to non-payment or a prepaid phone that has run its dollar limit will allow 911 calls for emergencies.

Openly communicate with your children about safe and responsible cell usage. Remember that the cell phone is an integral part of our daily lives and when used properly is both a valuable and necessary tool that provides a vital lifeline to our loved ones.

Mark Spencer, MA, S.A.F.E.

© Copyright 2006 S.A.F.E. All rights reserved.