The Background Information

“Students With Cell Phones May Take More Risks, Study Finds.” Ascribe Newswire: Health. 3/3/2008. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=3117025 7&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>

This is an interesting article that states that a lot of kids feel safer with phones. The article details why kids and adolescents feel safer carrying cell phones, even so much as saying that if the cell was not present, they would not venture outside after dark. I figured I would use this article to support the idea that many parents are wanting kids to carry cell phones, due to all the risks of today’s society.

Parenting. (2008): 22.1:24. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=2845613 7&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>

This article is a very short one. It details a poll of mothers asking if they believe children under 12 should have phones and then why or why not. Of the 1,700 polled, 79% said no. This was a surprising fact, and the reasons were just as shocking. Most parents thought kids on cell phones was annoying, so did not want their kids to have them. I figured that parents would have better reasons for kids not using phones, but that did not seem to be the case here. This poll shows different reasons for cell phone use, both under the positive side, and the negative side. I hope to use it in referencing my facts.

“Cell Phones--Do They Put Kids At Risk For Harmful Health Effects?” Child Health Alert (2005): 23: 2. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=2354477 0&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site >

This article details studies done in the past about cell phone usage and tumors. It says that there is no connection in the study of adults and the cell phone use, but that may not hold true for kids. As of now, there is not enough research on how cell phones may affect children, because the technological generation is still so new. The study was done in Sweden as well, not the US, so there may be some huge differences. The studies were inconsistent concerning the adults, because each study got varying degrees of fact. But, through this, the article is a good basis because it shows the idea is out there, and that research is being done.

World in Arguments

Any image can make an argument, as long as it is presented in the proper manner and to the right group. Take this one for example. An advertisement for buying a certain moisturizer cream. They type doesn’t mater, only the image: A pale blue background, chopsticks reaching across the middle with a naked blonde woman stretched along between them. The words “Skin good enough to eat” are placed floating in the blue background. This advertisement seeks to make a very strong argument. They portray the ultimatum of feminine beauty with the basic necessity of food (or do they mean soft skin is a necessity?) It is all about beauty. If you want to have skin good enough to eat and look like this woman, use our lotion. In using this image, the company is testifying to the idea that a sexy image sells and something that is normally taboo(eating another human being) can become a successful way to sell a message. The image works to. It implores women to buy the product on the “fact” that it will make them beautiful and soft, which, of course, all women strive to be.

Images for Claims...Emotion or Fact?

For almost a year, images such as this one circulated vastly. You couldn’t pass a telephone poll or a store front with out seeing the majestic eagle and the scroll of “United We Stand.” The argument is a simple one; The people of the U.S. need to become united. And the emotions of this collage of images stands behind the patriotic ideal - if you support the Red, White, and Blue, you will pay attention to this message. This images evokes a range of emotions, as it should with the range of images. Pride, sadness, fear, regret, all are present due to the flag, military planes, Twin Towers attack, and the crying eagle that are presented in the collage. It persuades people through its suggestions that all Americans should stand behind this message of United People because they are Americans. Not to do so would be to deny the emotions present and the symbols represented in this image. The verbal claim is the same, just unite.

Pictures are worth a Thousand Words

*Image: Wireless Raido towers and antennas across the US. Posted February 8, 2008. <<>>>

This image really struck a cord in me. It is a reading of all of the wireless radio and cellular towers in the U.S. I couldn't believe it when I saw it! I figured I could use this image to show how widespread the wireless world really is, and the risks that may come with it.


*Image: Two girls with new "Firefly" phone. "New York Times" article by Lisa Foderaro. March 9, 2007. << http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/fashion/29cell.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin >>

This image I plan on useing as an example of the new phones on the market for kids. This phone is the new "firefly" marketed towards children ages six to eight. Kind of sad that a market would target these young ones. They look so young, but phones are just a part of their lives now.

*Image: Three teens with cell phones. Textually.org sponcered site. November 20, 2007.
<<http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2007/11/018021.htm >>

Another example of the effects of cell phones on teenagers. This image shows them drinking a popular soft drink and hanging out... but none of them are talking to eachother. Instead, they talk on cell phones and this is the new "hanging out." I found it disturbing and sad that the kids no longer talk to each other. If you think about it, most times one can go to the mall and see this everyday. Kids hanging out with one another, but just talking on the phone while walking.

Polls for Thought

The problem with polls and the results from suck is thus: the questions can be biased toward one idea of another. The same question, just with a few words switched or added, can completely change the results obtained. Also, a question can be so loaded with extremes or information that the person polled does not really support either idea asked, but still answers because he or she feels obligated to do such. Here I have tried to shoe there is ideas using my topic and making various claims toward it.

1.) Are you for or against the idea of teens (kids ages 15-19) and preteens (ages 8-12) owning cell phones?

2.) In your opinion, is it beneficial for preteens or teens to own/use cell phones regularly?

3.) As technology increases, more and more kids are using cell phones or other communication methods to stay in touch with friends and family. Is this beneficial or detrimental to these children?

4.)Do you agree or disagree that in an increasingly technological world teens and preteens are becoming dependant upon communication tools such as cell phones?

5.) Would you agree or disagree with the statement “One of Three teens or preteens owns and uses a cellular phone.” Why? – The fact is true/false - The number is too high/too low

6.) What is the reason teen and preteens are spending so much money and time on cell phones? – Want to feel more ‘grown up’, popular, liked - Technology is easier to use -Phones are more affordable for most families -Parents ask children to carry the phones, as a precaution for safety

7.) Why is cellular communication so important in today’s society? -Ease of use Cheaper -more portable -stay in touch easier - want to be “up-to-date”

8.) Do you agree or disagree with the statement “cellular phones are the most used communication device.”?

Its Never Black and White

The bad thing about graphs is they can be interpreted in several different manners, all depending on who is looking at them and at what time in that individual’s life. Looking on the USA Today website made me see that, time and time again. It is a fact that I have always known; graphs and tables can be skewed to fit any perspective. But seeing such a wide variety of graphs and looking at them through the eyes of purposely wanting to see the various facts really brought the point home.

The graph I chose to analyze on the USA Today website is labeled “College students Taking Online Classes.” Unfortunately, I could not figure out how to copy the graph onto my blog. It did not have a save to computer option, and the graphs were all on a kind of slide show. This is the link to USA Today Snapshots, the graph I chose was under the news section, 8 out of 20.

The claims I have laid are as followed. I am not sure if I have approached this the right way, but I will give it a stab.

Claim #1: Despite the advances in computer technology over the past five years, only 10% more college-goers chose online classes than in 2002.

Claim #2: In today’s rapidly changing world, about 20% of college-goers choose online classes verse the traditional campus college due to the requirements of jobs and families.

Claim #3: The percentage of attending online college classes verse the traditional campus college classes is going up year by year. In 2002 only 9.7% of students attending college took online classes; now the number is up to 19.8% in 2006. This number can only be expected to grow, as is proven by the approximate 3% increase yearly.

Support For the Cause

Looking through the Academic search Premier, I found that my topic does hold relevance and I will be able to research several different areas of cell phone effects on children. I was afraid, after searching through the OVRC last week that I would not be able to the topic I wanted about children and the affects of technology. All of these articles can be swayed to go for both how cell phones affect kids, and how the buying of technology affects families. I cited several sites, because many of them were very short and I wanted to be able to have more reference later for our paper.

“Cell-phone-savvy kids.” Knapstein, Karen, Scholastic Parent & Child; Apr2007, Vol. 14 Issue 6, p62-62, 1/2p.
This is a very short article, mainly going into statistics. I thought that this would be good for a back up article, sighting the statistics for cell phone ownership. This article proclaimed that 74 percent of 13-to 18-year-olds owned their own cellular phones, and 26 percent of the 6- to 12-year-olds were owners.

“Child Wants Cellphone: Reception Is Mixed.” By: Foderaro, Lisa W. The New York Times Date. 03/29/2007 Volume: 156 Issue: 53898.
This article goes into the pros and cons of giving kids cell phones; why teenagers want them and the reasons for or against giving in to the demands of cell phones. It has some examples on parents who have given cells and why, then the opposite view, why some parents refuse to give phones. Also, this article details the for profit reasons of selling phones and why companies target teens. What phones are being sold and for what reasons.

Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers; Nov/Dec2006, Vol. 81 Issue 8, p8-9, 2p
This article talks about cell phone usage in schools and the benefits or drawbacks to it. There are a lot of things to consider with phones, you cant just look at the bad. This one goes solely into usage in classrooms, but it does shed light on why kids DO have cells. A lot of parents want to be in constant contact, or at least have that idea available to them.

“Home-Based ‘Digital Divide.’” Trotter, Andrew. Education Week; 10/31/2007, Vol. 27 Issue 10, p5-5, 1/7p
This article details how housing income retaliates to the technology the household has. It is not a very long article, but does site a study and give little hints about why kids clamor for new technology and how technology may play a part in kids lives. Those whose parents cannot afford the latest gadgets will be shunned by peers, resulting in the degrading social life.

“Parents should restrict children's use of mobile phones.” Brettingham, Madeleine. BMJ: British Medical Journal; 1/15/2005, Vol. 330 Issue 7483, p109-109, 1/2p, 1c
This article details the potential risk to a child’s brain when using a cell phone for long periods of time. It states that research is being done to prove or disprove the idea that children using cell phones intensively can lead to damage of that child’s DNA, as well as an increased risk for cancer or brain tumors. Right now, data and experiments are still being preformed, but this article lays the basis for the idea.