France Bans Cell Phone Ads Aimed At Children

Amid growing piles of evidence showing increased risks of tumors from cell phone use, the government of France has banned all advertising of mobile phone products aimed at children under 12.

This move is one of several ways that the French government is trying to raise public awareness of the dangers of long-term cell phone use.

Further legislation also makes it illegal to sell a mobile phone without hands-free earphones, and stricter limitations are being placed on phone companies regarding the amount of radiation emitted by mobile phones.

These new rules mark the first definite legislative acts by a European government that directly confront and address cell phone radiation hazards. Many governments in Europe have been warned by experts during the last ten years about the dangers of mobile phones, but have failed to act on them.

At the same time, mobile use has exploded in the younger generations. 90% of England’s 16 year olds own cell phones, with similar numbers in France, Spain, and Germany.

Mobile advertising towards children is a free-for-all in most developed countries, including the United States. France stands out as the only developed nation that is seriously fighting back against marketing cell phones to children.

An advertisement in the United States might include a group of teenagers in trendy clothes, laughing with one another as they hold their phones to their heads. On the contrary, advertisements in France read “Let’s keep them healthy, away from mobile phones!”

Quite a difference, to be sure. Let’s hope the United States follows suit once Congress wakes up to the dangers that cell phone radiation pose to children.