Written evidence submitted by
Benjamin Guilfoyle, The Castle School, Thornbury (SMH0067)

Report on: The Physical and Psychological Effects of Phones
 

Introduction: Phones are an ever growing influence on the lives of young people, through their great influence in the media, spearheading of brand new technology and effective marketing. They are a convenient way to get information and entertainment, and they are only becoming better and faster.

Pros: They are obviously a great tool for collecting information, and can be incredibly powerful tools of education, since they can be used to encourage independent learning through fun apps at a young age, and it can be used to search for information. They are better than ever at keeping people connected over great distances, and can expand children’s horizons. This means that British children can talk to people from around the world, learning of different cultures and lifestyles, while keeping connected with faraway friends and family. They are also incredibly practical, as they can be carried in a pocket or handbag quite easily, which allows them to be taken traveling easily, where it can supply maps and other helpful gadgets.

Cons: many companies create their products with the explicit purpose of being addictive, and with the advent of smartphones, these games are very easy access. A child could open up a game at any hour and play some, and thanks to their addictive nature, he’ll have to play some more, which could keep them up well into the night. Sharing personal information has also never been as easy, meaning that children and teens might get themselves into dangerous situations. This is especially dangerous when young people befriend strangers online. The health effects of phones are also unknown, as they release a certain type of radiation. There hays not yet been any correlation between phones and cancer, but it is known that the type of light they give out can contribute to sleep deprivation.

Recommendations: I think that companies that create apps for children and teens have to be closely monitored, both in how much they keep to the Data Protection Act, how secure their information is, and how addictive their games are. This would result in less abusive tactics by companies, such as selling the information of their customers. I also think more research should be done about the effects of phones healthwise, and whether they do contribute to any dangerous diseases.

March 2018