Center on Media and Child Health

A txt a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the use of text messages as part of the "telemedicine" wave.  In some countries text messages are cheaper, faster, and more private than phone calls or e-mails, so they present a useful alternative to calling or visiting a health professional.  Text messages are being used all over the world for a variety of health-related purposes:

• in the US: finding an HIV testing center near the user's location
• in Canada: using picture messages to consult about a meal with a nutritionist
• in the UK: reminding women to get breast cancer screenings   
• in Australia: allowing people to ask potentially-embarrassing sexual health questions   
• in Africa: monitoring AIDS patients   

Researchers have already tested the effectiveness of some health uses of text messages.  Rodgers et al found that people were twice as likely to successfully quit smoking if they received text messages containing advice and support for 7 months.

Mom? Can You Hear Me Now?

6.6 million American children between the ages of 8 and 12 own cell phones.  A New York Times article explored some of the reasons why parents purchase cell phones for their kids and what happens when they do.

Aside from those who finally cave to their children's repeated requests for phones, many parents purchase cell phones for security reasons, wanting to maintain the ability to be just a phone call away.   

Peer and sibling envy, classroom interruptions, phone bills, and questions of materialism are some of the problems that arise with cell phones among this age group.

Learn more about the health effects of cell phones on the CMCH website

25% of Teens Harassed Electronically

A new survey of teens shows that 1 in 4 are often harassed by peers or significant others over their cell phones or on the Internet.  Text and picture messaging on phones as well as instant messaging and social networking sites on computers are outlets where teens are bullied, often without their parents' knowledge.  Findings of the study include:

• 71% of teens regard boyfriends/girlfriends spreading rumors about them on cellphones and social networking sites as a serious problem.
• 68% of teens say boyfriends/girlfriends sharing private or embarrassing pictures/videos on cell phones and computers is a serious problem.
• One in three teens (30%) say they are text messaged 10, 20, 30 times an hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with.
• 82% of parents whose teens were emailed or texted 30 times per hour, did not know this was happening.

Learn more about the risks and benefits of cell phones on the CMCH Hot Topic  - Cell Phones: They're Everywhere!