Prepaid Cell Phones for Kids and the Cancer Scare

Recently the news has been filled with a new cancer advisory over the risk of cancer from cell phone use. Now, the person/group who has made this warning has NO new evidence and there really is no strong evidence that cell phones cause cancer. It is more of a precautionary warning. Frankly, I would call it an irresponsible scare tactic.

Check Google News and blog searches on the cell phone industry. You will see many people freaking out over the possibility of cancer. This scare is nothing new. Certain people and interest groups have been debating this issue for a long time. But now you have the AP making a story and huge websites like the Drudge Report linking to this story with sensational headlines. The actual "story" is pretty much non-existent and a lot of other cell phone bloggers aren't concerned about it.

The problem of course is "the children." Let me suspend objective reality for a moment and assume there actually IS some substantial risk for children who use cell phones.

Well, you still have several options. For one, most young children probably do not need cell phones for any reason. If parents are concerned about their safety do not give cell phones to young children.

For older children there is a very simple way to limit their exposure. If you want them to have access to a wireless phone while reducing their talk time and exposure to health risks- go with a prepaid solution. Give your kid an allowance of cell phone minutes to use. If you want them to only use it in an emergency then be very stingy. If they use it a little more regularly but you worry they are going to grow a brain tumor or the phone will get stuck to the side of their head, give them a more moderate allowance of minutes on a prepaid cell phone.

If you are really really scared, just ditch the phone altogether. There are many unknowns so be proactive about it. You are the PARENT after all. Make the decision for your own children without relying on interest groups and fear mongers.