Should parents allow their children to use smart phones and tablets? The issue of cognitive performance

Abstract

Should parents allow their children to use smart phones and tablets? The issue of cognitive performance Mortazavi SAR, Haghani M, Zarei S, Rastegarian N, Alighanbari N, Haghparast M, Darvish L. Should parents allow their children to use smart phones and tablets? The issue of cognitive performance. J Biomed Phys Eng. doi.org, Published online first. Abstract Mobile phones, mobile phone base stations, cordless phones and power lines are among the main sources of our daily exposures to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Today, a large proportion of children aged eight and under has used smart phones and tablets for media activities such as playing online games, watching videos or using different applications. Over the past several years, our society has witnessed a rapid growth both in the percent of children who regularly use smart phones and tablets and the time spent using these devices. Expanded access of children to these mobile devices and the games that make mobile phones attractive to young users are believed to be the key factors that increased the time spent by children for using mobile devices. In IR Iran, students are not allowed to use mobile phones in schools. On the other hand, although students do not have access to Wi-Fi in schools, as Wi-Fi provides efficient access to the Internet on the campus, Wi-Fi routers are widely used. The rapid growth of mobile phone use has raised global public concerns especially for children. Focusing on the issue of cognitive performance, this paper is aimed at answering the following question; Should parents let their children use smart phones and tablets? Conclusions Nowadays in many countries, there are warnings about children mobile phone use [53]. Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation is a Class 2B (possible). It is widely believed that children are more susceptible to radiation at least in some regions of the electromagnetic spectrum [54]. It has been reported that chil-dren absorb more radiofrequency radiation than adults [53]. Moreover, some individuals are hypersensitive to RF- EMFs [55] and this hypersensitivity may cause more problems in children. As long-term effects of the children's exposures to RF EMF emitted from mobile phones and other wireless technologies are not fully understood, overexposure to phones and other wireless technologies should be avoided to protect their cognitive performance. In this light, setting time limits for cell phone use by children is highly recommended. Moreover, in each country authorities should adopt radia-tion standards which protect children's health and well-being. Open access paper: jbpe.ir

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This paper discusses concerns about children’s exposure to RF-EMF from mobile phones and other wireless technologies in relation to cognitive performance. It concludes that because long-term effects are not fully understood, overexposure should be avoided and time limits for children’s phone use are recommended, along with standards intended to protect children’s health and well-being.

Outcomes measured

• cognitive performance

Limitations

• No original study design, methods, or quantitative results are described in the abstract
• No exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, duration) are provided
• No sample size or specific cognitive performance measures are reported

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.6)
  Discusses Wi‑Fi routers used on school campuses and student access policies.

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone, base station, cordless phone, wi-fi",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "long-term effects discussed; no specific duration quantified"
    },
    "population": "Children (including children aged eight and under; students)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "cognitive performance"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This paper discusses concerns about children’s exposure to RF-EMF from mobile phones and other wireless technologies in relation to cognitive performance. It concludes that because long-term effects are not fully understood, overexposure should be avoided and time limits for children’s phone use are recommended, along with standards intended to protect children’s health and well-being.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "No original study design, methods, or quantitative results are described in the abstract",
        "No exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, duration) are provided",
        "No sample size or specific cognitive performance measures are reported"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "children",
        "smartphones",
        "tablets",
        "RF-EMF",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "wi-fi",
        "base stations",
        "cordless phones",
        "cognitive performance",
        "radiation standards"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "school-wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.59999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Discusses Wi‑Fi routers used on school campuses and student access policies."
        }
    ]
}

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