New research released by mobileYouth, a market research and consultancy company, has highlighted the growing number of young children with mobile phones in Britain. The study conducted across the 5-24
year old market highlights that there are now 400,000 children in the UK under the age of 10 owning a mobile phone, as against only 80,000 in 2000. The figure will pass the half a million mark by the
end of next year. The report has been met with concern by many, especially those who firmly believe that the use of mobile phones by such young children can be potentially damaging to health and is
the possible cause of cancer and tumours in later life. Josh Dhaliwal, the author of the report says "whilst mobileYouth in no way advocates the advertising, marketing and sale of mobile phones to
children per se, there is a growing trend for parents to overlook any potential hazards with their own concerns for the security of their children and a mobile phone allows them to be remain within
reach".