Mobile phones are a necessary part of our lives. They can help us stay connected to all the important people in our lives, but they also come with their own set of risks.
Children face an increased risk when using mobile phones because they have not fully developed their brains and bodies for handling the radiation from these devices. It is important that parents know what these risks are before searching for mobile phones for sale in Sri Lanka to get for their children,Guest Posting so that they can take measures to prevent them.
What are the risks and how do you prevent them?
The first thing we should look at is how mobile phone safety affects children’s health. There has been concern over whether or not electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by cell phones might be harmful to children’s developing brains and reproductive systems for years now, but there hasn’t been any evidence found proving this theory true or false. Children are much more sensitive to radiation because they have thinner skulls and smaller brains that absorb greater amounts of radiation than adults, so this is very important to think about when it comes to mobile phone safety for children.
Other health risks include the potential for increased rates of cancer from extended cell phone use, as well as the risk of developing tumours around earphone implants.
The second thing we should look at in regards to mobile phone safety for children is how these devices can be used as a threat or weapon against them, often referred to as “cyberbullying”. Because technology has become such an integral part of our lives whether you’re using social media on your cell phone, tablet or computer; people interacting with others online have found themselves the victim of cyberbullying. This bullying takes place primarily through text messages between cell phones, but also over email making threats towards someone’s actions both offline and online. This can include using someone’s image or name to threaten and embarrass them. Because of this, children should be educated about avoiding uncontrollable online access as well as what types of consequences they could face if they were to engage in cyberbullying themselves.
Why children should not have their own phones
Because of these high risks it is commonly agreed that children should not have their own cell phones. Parents should be very clear on why they do not believe it is appropriate and ensure that children understand the consequences of having a cell phone as well as how to use one responsibly. It also helps for parents to explain what “responsible” usage entails, such as talking about inappropriate topics over texts or emails sent through your phone without thinking first because someone could end up using this information against you in an embarrassing way online.
The effects of social media on kids’ mental health
Social Media is one of the biggest drawbacks of our times, especially for children. Social media can have an incredibly negative impact on the minds of children, with many young people suffering from mental health issues as a result. The first risk is cyberbullying. Children are already very likely to suffer bullying at school and online bullying has become just another tool that bullies use against their victims, resulting in psychological damage for those who experience it.
Another problem that social media poses for kids’ mental health is sleep deprivation. It is no secret that using electronic devices before bedtime significantly disrupts one’s ability to get enough restful sleep, especially if you’re constantly checking your phone or tablet every few minutes throughout the night. This lack of proper sleeping patterns often results in anxiety attacks among other problems.
Lastly, there is also the risk of exposure to explicit content. While it’s true that, if you’re a minor, YouTube will automatically block questionable video clips and flag things like nudity or violence for adult viewers only, however, this filtering isn’t fool proof. In fact, there have been cases where children stumbled upon these types of videos while browsing the site on their own devices.
How to use parental controls to monitor your child’s phone activity
In an age when the risks to a child are greater because of new technology, parents need to use this same technology in order to place proper controls on their child’s phone. Parental controls can help to monitor and manage how your child uses the Internet, apps, social media sites such as Facebook or Snapchat, and much more. This includes placing restrictions on when children are allowed to use certain features of a mobile device (e.g., during school hours) in order to prevent distraction from homework and other tasks at hand.
It is also becoming common for parents to place parental controls on gaming systems, TVs and streaming devices so that they can set limits around screen time usage. You might not think it necessary initially but if you want peace of mind knowing what your child is up to online then these types of tools are worth considering.
Tips for keeping your kid safe online
Keeping your child safe from potential risks is important, and tips to doing this effectively include:
Setting a good example – make sure you are not spending too much time online yourself. Your child will learn from your behaviour, so it is important to be mindful of this before you start trying to teach them how to use the internet well.
Be open and honest with them about what they should avoid doing when using devices such as mobile phones or tablets. It may seem obvious, but children can still get caught up in dangerous situations very quickly if parents do not take action.
Teach your child about cyber security early on and explain why things like password protection and anti-virus software are necessary precautions for protecting their identity and personal information online. This way, they will understand exactly why these steps need taking without any resistance while also understanding the risks involved and how to spot them.
If you do not give your child a mobile phone, there is no risk of exposure to dangerous online content or cybercrime. It’s important that parents are aware though that children can still access unauthorised devices including tablets and computers in public places such as cafes or at school so it should be made clear from an early age how they need to behave while using these types of devices.
If you have young kids who will soon receive their first smartphone, make sure this process includes setting up parental controls on the phone which allow for restrictions on what type of apps can be downloaded onto the device along with other safety features like web filters which block out any unwanted websites. Parents must also remain open about checking through text messages and other mediums in order to ensure that there are no potentially dangerous contacts being made by a child. Getting them a smart phone by searching for mobile phone for sale in Sri Lanka is not enough, you need to have absolute control over what content they are viewing online.