SHILLONG: The world’s most indispensable gadget, the cell phone with umpteen models is a common acquisition among people of various households but very ‘cool,’ with young people. The cell phone actually breaks age barriers. But recent studies by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) have divulged the pernicious nature of cell phones since 2007.
Some of the studies say cell phones can cause cancer through high levels of radiation. They could cause depression and stress among others. Although the physiological effects are seemingly low, the psychological and social effects are undeniably high.
A recent survey of school and college students and teachers in the city have confirmed the ill-effects of unregulated cell phone usage. Teachers are of the opinion that school children are in a stage of self-definition and are still figuring out the thin line between ‘what is right’ and ‘what is wrong,’ so they need parental guidance.
Meghalaya has banned cell phones in schools and some of the
reputed schools have been strictly implementing the ban. But have they succeeded? Some of the reports are astonishing. Speaking on condition of anonymity a staff of Pine Mount School said there are regular surprise checks on student of Class VII upwards. If cell phones are found they are confiscated. This happens in most schools!
The contents of few such cell phones had illicit pictures and text messages, otherwise known as “sexting”. The school believes that “license” to cell phones should not be given to children freely.
Ms. C.M. Nongrum, Principal, Loreto Convent, expressed grave concern, saying, “Even young kids are today allowed cell phones. The distractions it can pose can only be dealt with by co-operation between the parents with the school so as to channel a one-line discipline (lest children be confused).”
Principal St Edmunds School, Ms M Trevor, states, “Cell phones, like any other gadget, have to be used judiciously. However, the mental health of the children cannot be attributed only to the use of cell phones but also to the pressure at home and peer pressure.”
A study measuring the link between cell phones and mental health found that teens who used cell phones were the most were likely to be anxious and depressed. Teen cell phone users are also likely to be woken up at night by incoming text messages or calls, which leads to “lack of sleep” and fatigue.
Cyber-bullying can also be facilitated through text messaging and is more often perpetrated by girls, who initiate inappropriate messages or spread damaging gossip.
Many perturbed parents and guardians agree that parental control should be taken when the child is given a license to use any gadget. Many teachers feel that parents must first discuss the child’s motivation for having a cell phone and set the rules for its use.
They feel that kids should be taught to answer calls or view text messages from people they know. If at all parents feel a cell phone is absolutely necessary for their college kids then they should invest in a pre-paid plan and constantly remind them to budget their minutes, says a cell phone company manager.
Many parents spoken to said their children were so busy on the cell phone that they even performed badly in their exams as was evident from many of the results published recently. Parents said their children’s study time was disrupted by incoming calls and text messages.
(Contributed by Aphune K. Kezo)