We see smartphones everywhere. In school hallways, at the family dinner table and plugged in at the bedside table.
But how young is too young to be constantly connected to the rest of the world through sleek apps, social media and video messaging?
One Colorado man has decided that age 13 seems like a good cutoff.
Tim Farnum is leading the charge on a proposed ballot initiative in Colorado that would be the first of its kind in the country. Farnum's proposal would ban the sale of smartphones to children younger than 13, or more likely, to parents who intend to give the smartphone to kids in that age bracket.
Farnum, a Denver-area anesthesiologist, is the founder of Parents Against Underage Smartphones, or PAUS, the nonprofit group pushing the proposal.
Source: Coloradoan.com
Also reported by: The Washington Post
Initial Fiscal Impact Statement: Colorado.gov [PDF]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday June 20 2017, @12:20AM (3 children)
Story seems bogus.
You do not have to unlock an iphone (or android) to call 911 (or 999 in the uk).
Maybe he didn't know that, or maybe he didn't know how to dial, which is why he asked siri.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 20 2017, @12:27AM
Of course he didn't know. If you tell a 4 year old he can dial 911 with a locked phone, he'll be doing it all the time and be a nuisance to the dispatcher. Back when I was a kid and payphones still existed, we miscreants would dial 0 on public payphones and shout swearwords at the operator just because the call was free.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Tuesday June 20 2017, @12:31AM (1 child)
You do, however, have to be able to remember the number [youtube.com].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 20 2017, @12:37AM
There's a party in my head
Won't let me go to bed
Have to stay up instead
Go to the party in my head
Though you may call 999
They will hang up every time
It's too late they're here with me
Off their heads and on the beat