By B.N. Frank
For anyone who still thinks kids “glued” to screens is cute or normal, on November 17, 2017, The American Medical Association (AMA) posted a press release warning about teens being harmed by screen use:
This increased use of devices such as tablets and phones is being associated with an uptick in harmful effects, including obesity, sleep problems, depression and anxiety.
Recently, medical experts even started warning this was causing some to grow “horns” on the back of their heads. That’s not cute or normal at all.
Unfortunately, parents as well as public schools are still starting kids younger than teens on screens despite past and present warnings.
Since 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been warning about kids’ use of technology AND their exposure to its Electromagnetic Fields aka “Electrosmog” (Bluetooth, cell phone radiation and WiFi). Research has proven that kids are more vulnerable to exposure. In fact, there is still no “safe” level that has been scientifically determined for children or pregnant women. Many experts also warn that blue light from screens causes all kinds of issues including insomnia and blindness.
Exposure is cumulative and everyone is affected differently. Of course, if your kid is perfectly fine right now, you may not be concerned. But if you are concerned, Environmental Health Trust is one of many organizations that provide a plethora of information about this on their websites. Here are some highlights about the American Academy of Pediatrics warnings about cell phones, cell towers, and WiFi:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the largest US medical association of pediatricians and pediatric specialists, recommends that the US government tighten wireless exposure limits and that the public reduce children’s exposure to cell phones and other devices that emit wireless radiation. The AAP also cautions that cell tower radiation is linked to headaches, sleep problems and depression in scientific research studies.
The AAP issued the following cell phone safety tips on their webpage Healthy Children Webpage on Cell Phones. They specifically recommend to reduce exposure to wireless radiation:
Council on Environmental Health Executive Committee in the AAPs press release on the NTP Study Results.
The official position of the AAP is documented in three letters they sent to government officials. The letters describe children’s unique vulnerability to wireless radiation and call on the federal government to review and tighten radiation standards for wireless devices in order to protect pregnant women and children’s health. In 2012, the AAP sent a letter in support of the newly proposed federal legislation referred to as the Cell Phone Right to Know Act. In 2012, the AAP wrote a letter to the Federal Communications Commission calling for it to open up a review of radiofrequency limits. In 2013, after the FCC opened up “Reassessment of Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Limits and Policies” the AAP submitted a letter with their official comment.
In 2012, the AAP published Pediatric Environmental Health, the AAP Textbook of Children’s Environmental Health and Chapter 41 is about Electromagnetic Fields. The AAP website HealthyChild.org informs the public about cell phone and wireless radiation and cell tower radiation. In 2016, the AAP issued a press release about the carcinogenic findings from the NIH National Toxicology Program Studies and issued new recommendations with 10 ways to reduce children’s exposure to wireless radiation.
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