Switzerland: Smartphones harm teenagers more than previously thought – schools impose cell phone bans

Smartphones harm teenagers more than previously thought – schools impose cell phone bans
Patrik Müller / ch media, watson.ch, 10 August 2024 - auto-translation

Goodbye to personal responsibility: A rethink is taking place at secondary schools in Switzerland. The fact that smartphone bans are gaining majority support is also due to a "bible" from America - and five specific dangers.

(Photo): The usual picture: Can it be changed with bans?symbolic image: Getty

The summer holidays are coming to an end, and on Monday classrooms in many cantons will be filled up again. Not everything is the same as before. Around 1,100 pupils at the Burghalde school in Baden AG are expecting a new rule. Smartphones are prohibited in the buildings. "The requirement that young people be able to regulate their mobile phone use independently was too high," the school administration explained the turnaround in a letter to parents.

France to trial ban on mobile phones at school for children under 15

France to trial ban on mobile phones at school for children under 15
by Kim Willsher in Paris, theguardian.com, 27 août 2024

‘Digital pause’ experiment at 200 secondary schools could be extended nationwide in January

(Photo) : A report commissioned by President Macron concluded that phones were not only bad for children but also for ‘society and civilisation’. Photograph: Mixmike/Getty Images

France is to trial a ban on mobile phones at school for pupils up to the age of 15, seeking to give children a “digital pause” that, if judged successful, could be rolled out nationwide from January.

Just under 200 secondary schools will take place in the experiment that will require youngsters to hand over phones on arrival at reception. It takes the prohibition on the devices further than a 2018 law that banned pupils at primary and secondary schools from using their phones on the premises but allowed them to keep possession of them.

Announcing the trial on Tuesday, the acting education minister, Nicole Belloubet, said the aim was to give youngsters a “digital pause”. If the trial proves successful, the ban would be introduced in all schools from January, Belloubet said.

For a Growing Number of Kids, Back to School Means No Cellphones

For a Growing Number of Kids, Back to School Means No Cellphones
by Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D., childrenshealthdefense.org, 28 August 2024

More and more schools are banning the use of cellphones during the school day, citing research that links teen smartphone use to mental health harm.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on Aug. 21 became one of the latest to adopt a new policy to lock away cellphones and other smart devices — such as earbuds, headphones and smartwatches — during school hours, reported the MV Times.

According to EdSource, schools are enacting such policies “to curb bullying, classroom distractions, and to combat addiction to the devices.”

How Democratic Policies Allow The Wireless Industry To Put Your Child at Risk From Entropic Waste

How Democratic Policies Allow The Wireless Industry To Put Your Child at Risk From Entropic Waste 

rfsafe.com, August 24, 2024

The Invisible Crisis

In an era dominated by wireless technology, where smartphones, Wi-Fi, and other devices are integral to our daily lives, a hidden danger lurks—one that is not visible to the naked eye, yet has profound implications for our health and environment. This danger, known as entropic waste, represents the disorder introduced into natural systems by electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from wireless technology. Unlike traditional pollutants, entropic waste is insidious, silently disrupting the delicate bioelectrical communications that keep our bodies functioning properly.

Unfortunately, instead of addressing this growing threat, Democratic policies—particularly under the Biden-Harris administration—have allowed corporate interests to capture regulatory agencies like the FCC, resulting in outdated safety guidelines that fail to protect our children. This article will explore how these policies, influenced by industry manipulation and a failure to heed early scientific warnings, have put our children and families at risk.

Understanding Entropic Waste

What is Entropic Waste?

Entropic waste is not your typical pollution; it doesn’t blacken skies or foul rivers. Instead, it’s an invisible, electromagnetic byproduct of our increasingly wireless world. Every time you make a call, connect to Wi-Fi, or use Bluetooth, you’re contributing to a cloud of electromagnetic fields that, over time, introduces disorder into the natural bioelectrical systems that govern life.

Belgium bans smartphone use in French primary, secondary schools

Belgium bans smartphone use in French primary, secondary schools

Decision made to fight rising incidents of harassment using smartphones, says education authority

by Selen Valente Rasquinho, aa.com, |22 Aug. 2024 - Update : 22 Aug. 2024

BRUSSELS

The use of smartphones by students in primary and secondary schools in Belgium's French-speaking regions and the capital Brussels has been banned, local media said on Thursday.

According to a decision taken by the Wallonia-Brussels Education Network (WBE), primary and secondary school students will be banned from bringing smartphones with them as of the 2024-2025 academic year, which is due to start next Monday in 373 French-language schools.

The ban will cover 132,600 students.

In the Flemish-speaking part of the country, the government is also expected to agree to such a ban.

Another WHO RF Review Challenged - More than 99% of Studies on Oxidative Stress Discarded

Another WHO RF Review Challenged
More than 99% of Studies on Oxidative Stress Discarded
microwavenews.com, August 21, 2024, Last updated August 23, 2024

A third RF systematic review commissioned by the World Health Organization’s EMF Project is under fire. This one is on RF–induced oxidative stress. Last month, two other WHO reviews —on pregnancy outcomes and on tinnitus— were both called into question as critics called for them to be retracted.

A team of 14 from six countries, led by Felix Meyer of the German Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), identified 11,599 studies on oxidative stress in the frequency range 800-2450 MHz. They then eliminated 11,543 of them as not meeting their criteria for inclusion. Of the remaining 56, there are 45 animal studies and 11 cellular studies.

United Kingdom: EE warns parents against giving children under 11 a smartphone

EE warns parents against giving children under 11 a smartphone
by Simon Goodley, theguardian.com, 25 August 2024

Primary school children should not be given smartphones by their parents, one of the UK’s largest mobile phone operators has warned.

(Photo): Concern has grown about the negative impact that excessive screen and smartphone use has on young people’s wellbeing. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

EE is advising parents that children under 11 should be given old-fashioned brick or “dumb” phones that only allow them to call or text instead.

“EE recommends that children under 11 should use non-smart devices with limited capabilities, such as feature phones, ensuring they can make texts and calls but restrict access to social media or inappropriate content,” the company said.

It is thought to be the the first time a UK mobile operator has offered such advice.

10 Teens Gave Up Smartphones for a Month. Here’s What Happened

10 Teens Gave Up Smartphones for a Month. Here’s What Happened
by John-Michael Dumais, childrenshealthdefense.org, 13 August 2024

British journalist Decca Aitkenhead offered a compelling glimpse into how digital detox can transform young lives — and maybe address what social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., calls “the anxious generation.”

In a bold experiment that addresses the growing concerns about smartphone addiction and teen mental health, British journalist Decca Aitkenhead challenged her two teenage sons and eight of their friends to go without smartphones for a month.

The results, published this month in the U.K.’s Sunday Times Magazine, offer a compelling glimpse into how digital detox can transform young lives — and potentially address what author Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., calls the “anxious generation.”

France: List of cell phones withdrawn or updated for deception and endangering users (update 13 August 2024)

Three more smartphones have been withdrawn from the French market and recalled: DOOGEE N50, DOOGEE S100 Pro and OSCAL C80 for not complying with European regulatory exposure limits protecting users' health. There is now a total of 54 cell phones pinned in France. Phonegate Alert points out that no cell phone, tablet or other connected object protects the health of its users.

List of cell phones withdrawn or updated for deception and endangering users
By : Phonegate Team • 13 Aug 2024

There are now 54 models of cell phones, identified as dangerous to the health of users, which have been either withdrawn from the French market or have seen their Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) updated by software. The latest:the DOOGEE N50, DOOGEE S100 Pro and the OSCAL C80, the SPC Discovery, the Motorola MOTO G53, the Nokia G22, the HOTWAV Cyber 7, the LOGICOM Flow, the EMPORIA smart 4, the DOOGEE S88, the EMPORIA simplicity V27, the Iphone 12, the Motorola Edge, the Essential Clap 20+, the Xiaomi Poco X3 and the LOGICOM Le Swipe.

Three new smartphones withdrawn from the market and recalled: the DOOGEE N50, DOOGEE S100 Pro and the OSCAL C80

France: Lenovo TAB P 11 Tablet Exceeds Regulatory Radiofrequency Radiation Limit

The Lenovo TAB P 11 tablet does not comply with European regulatory exposure limits protecting users' health. This is the second connected object (excluding cell phones) to be pinned in France in the space of a few days! The level of overexposure is the highest ever recorded since controls began.

List of dangerous connected objects withdrawn or updated
By : Phonegate Team • 6 Aug 2024

Since our creation in 2018, Phonegate Alert has consistently called on French, European and international public authorities to implement controls on exposure to radiofrequencies (RF) from the many dangerous connected objects used in contact with the body (tablets, laptops, watches, glasses, virtual reality headsets, hearing aids, etc.). We are therefore delighted to be able to provide you with this new complementary list to that of dangerous cell phones.

Major overexposure for the Lenovo TAB P11 tablet

In a press release published on August 5, 2024, the French National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) announces that it has pinpointed the Lenovo TAB P11 tablet for the highest level of overexposure at body level ever recorded, during a test, to date.

NY Students Banned From Using Phones First Hated, Then Loved It

NY Students Banned From Using Phones First Hated, Then Loved It
By Esme Fox, bloomberg.com, July 17, 2024

Schools see better grades, student engagement after phone ban
NY governor plans to propose statewide phone ban in schools

(Photo): A student places their cellphone in to a phone holder as they enter class.Photographer: Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

Signs of withdrawal began to show immediately.

At a high school in upstate New York that had banned mobile phones, a student was constantly reaching for her non-existent device and grabbing air. Hallways rang with the sound of kids trying to smash locks and get to their devices. At another school in the Bronx, students plotted a protest.

Eventually, though, the symptoms faded and behavior changed. At KIPP NYC College Prep high school, AP test scores increased and grades bounced back to pre-pandemic averages, according to Principal Monica Samuels. She said some students even covertly thanked her for instituting the ban, which made it easier for them to focus. And the school saw changes after hours, too: Attendance at sporting events and other activities jumped by 50%.

20 New Papers on Electromagnetic Fields and Biology or Health (August 1, 2024)

20 New Papers on Electromagnetic Fields and Biology or Health
Electromagnetic Radiation Safety, August 1, 2024

Dr. Joel Moscowitz, University of California Berkeley, has been circulating abstracts of newly-published scientific papers on radio frequency and other non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) monthly since 2016. The complete collection of these papers contains more than 2,000 abstracts with links to the papers. Several hundred EMF scientists around the world receive these updates.

To see abstracts for the most recent papers or to download volumes 1 to 3 of this collection go to:
https://www.saferemr.com/2022/06/recent-research-on-wireless-radiation.html

Recent Research on Wireless Radiation and Electromagnetic Fields

A critical appraisal of the WHO 2024 systematic review of the effects of RF-EMF exposure on tinnitus, migraine/headache, and non-specific symptoms

WHO to build neglect of RF-EMF exposure hazards on flawed EHC reviews? Case study demonstrates how “no hazards” conclusion is drawn from data showing hazards

France: List of dangerous connected objects withdrawn or updated

List of dangerous connected objects withdrawn or updated
By : Phonegate Team • 1 Aug 2024

Since our creation in 2018, Phonegate Alert has consistently called on French, European and international public authorities to implement controls on exposure to radiofrequencies (RF) from the many dangerous connected objects used in contact with the body (tablets, laptops, watches, glasses, virtual reality headsets, hearing aids, etc.). We are therefore delighted to be able to provide you with this new complementary list to that of dangerous cell phones.

Zebra ET45CA tablet: first high-risk connected object tested in France

With the announcement on July 25, 2024, by the Agence nationale des fréquences (ANFR), of the first inspection of the Zebra ET45CA tablet for non-compliance, we are pleased to note a very first step in the right direction.

The professional-grade Zebra ET45CA tablet has been tested by the accredited German laboratory Cetecom Advanced, with a measured SAR “member” exceedance of 4.586 W/kg for a limit of 4W/kg (the test is not available in the DATA base).

A software update has been carried out by the manufacturer and tested in the laboratory to bring the exposure level down to 2.41 W/kg.

United States Senate Passes the Kids Online Safety Act

Senate passes the Kids Online Safety Act
The landmark piece of legislation heads to the House.

By Lauren Feiner, a senior policy reporter at The Verge, covering the intersection of Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill. She spent 5 years covering tech policy at CNBC, writing about antitrust, privacy, and content moderation reform. theverge.com, July 30, 2024

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Images

The Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (also known as COPPA 2.0), the first major internet bills meant to protect children to reach that milestone in two decades. A legislative vehicle that included both KOSA and COPPA 2.0 passed 91–3.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called it “a momentous day” in a speech ahead of the vote, saying that “the Senate keeps its promise to every parent who’s lost a child because of the risks of social media.” He called for the House to pass the bills “as soon as they can.”

KOSA is a landmark piece of legislation that a persistent group of parent advocates played a key role in pushing forward — meeting with lawmakers, showing up at hearings with tech CEOs, and bringing along photos of their children, who, in many cases, died by suicide after experiencing cyberbullying or other harms from social media. These parents say that a bill like KOSA could have saved their own children from suffering and hope it will do the same for other children.

Wi-Fi radiation: Practical steps to implement safer tech in classrooms

Wi-Fi radiation: Practical steps to implement safer tech in classrooms 

by Theodora Scarato, Rob Brown, MD, & Kent Chamberlin, PhD, Environmental Health Trust
August 1, 2024

Many public health agencies and medical organizations recommend taking prudent measures to limit student exposure to RFR

Key points:

• Many school district policies prohibit the installation of new cell towers at schools
• The surprising/unsurprising things education IT leaders have to say
• Tech investments determine school success
• For more news on safe tech, visit eSN’s IT Leadership hub

Around a decade ago, districts began installing Wi-Fi technology in schools to facilitate access to enhanced “21st century” educational resources. Before Wi-Fi, students used computers plugged in through ethernet cords in dedicated computer rooms. Today, even kindergarteners sit in circles on the floor with Wi-Fi tablets on their laps.