There’s no strong evidence that cellphones cause cancer. There also isn’t strong evidence that cellphones cause teen depression.
—
IagreewithHealthandHumanServicesSecretaryRobertF.KennedyJr.thatcellphonesprobablydon’tbelonginclassrooms.Theyarelikelytodistractfromlearning,toimpedesocialization,orboth.
ButKennedyhasadifferentconcern.Herecentlytold Fox&Friendsthathe’sworriedthephoneswillcase“neurologicaldamagetokids”and“evencancer.”
ThedifferencebetweenKennedyandme—well,therearemany,butthekeydifferenceforourpurposestoday—isthatIdon’tmistakemysuspicionsaboutcellphones,socialization,andlearninglossfordemonstratedscientificfacts.
ManyotherpeoplehavecriticizedKennedyfromasuperficiallysimilarangle:Likeme,theythinktherearegoodreasonstokeepcellphonesoutofclassrooms,andlikeme,theydon’tthinkKennedy’sreasonsareamongthem.Butthesecriticsarguethatphonescausedepression,anxiety,andothermental-healthissues—andlikeKennedy,theyseemconvincedth
