Are Cell Phones The New Cigarettes?

Cigarettes have a way of bonding people together.  In offices, in schools, in public places smokers hang-out together. They form connections bumming cigarettes, getting a light and sharing stories of being an outsider, a smoker, with fellow travelers.

As there are smokers and non-smokers, smoking sections and the rest of the world, it seems that cell phone users are becoming the new smokers and cell phones the new cigarettes.  Not to be too Carrie Bradshaw but recent stories report authorities in offices, schools and public places are restricting the use of cell phones. They are designating the times, places  and how cell phones can be used.

Take this story from The Current (a news show on CBC Radio One) where school boards are taking steps to control cell phone use in public schools.  Will there soon be groups of ’phoners congregating behind bleachers or darkened corners to sneak a call or quick txt msg between class?

Or this story from CNNMoney.com on how annoying cell phones can be, causing distraction, reducing productivity and raising the specter of legal liability for any accidents that may happen while someone’s on the phone at work. Will cell-packing workers be forced to steal away to the nearest stairwell for a fix whenever they feel that phone vibrate or twitch in their pocket?

While the dangers of second-hand cell phone use haven’t boiled to surface, can they be far behind? Already, there is some research linking increased exposure to elevated levels of electromangetic radiation -radio waves, to health problems.

There are clearly instances where distractions can be dangerous (whether from cell phones, kids or otherwise). Encouraging people to pay attention to the road is a good thing. 

But it seems that society is preparing to accelerate the dialogue on cell phones and cell phone users.

Are cell phones the new cigarettes?  This is a question we may all soon be addressing. Will chatter-filled rooms with pinging buttons and top-40 ring tones soon go the way of corner-bars and wood-panelled offices reeking of smoke by 1 pm?

          

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 at 10:04 pm and is filed under Workplace. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.