A toy-like mobile phone designed for children as young as four is to be launched in Britain, it was today revealed.
Details of the product emerged as figures showed more than half of under-10s now own mobile phones – a total of 1.74million children.
But the trend – and the new range of mobiles designed for very young children – was causing alarm tonight.
Parents’ leaders warned against ‘eroding childhood’ and raised concerns over the impact on children’s health of radiation and heat from handsets.
The brightly-coloured Firefly handset has just five buttons – including two which call mum and dad directly.
More than 7,000 of the £85 handsets have already been sold in Ireland through a Dublin-based distribution firm, which is planning a UK launch towards the end of the year.
Versions of the handset are expected to be launched on a single network, with talks still ongoing.
But despite security features and restricted functions, parents’ groups criticised an ‘unforgiveable’ trend.
Margaret Morrissey, of the lobby group Parents’ Outloud, said: ‘We have got to be really careful here, especially for under-10s.
‘We are continually eroding childhood and making children miniature adults.
‘The excuse will be that it is for the sake of safety, but in fact it’s for the sake of the mobile phone company’s bank balance.
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Appently its to simple to use than even a lieberal could use it. ‘Can you hear me now?’
Britain’s got one hell of a lot more to be concerned about than whether or not little kids have cell phones.
No offense to anyone, but they should be marketing this to seniors. So much complaining about “features” I hear …