Survey shows Japanese kids addicted to cell phones

A survey on cell-phone use by Japanese children shows that one in six junior high school students must have their phones even at the dining table.

The survey, conducted last year by a national teachers and parents association, covered about 2,000 fifth-graders, an equal number of second-year junior high school students, and their parents.

About 20 percent of the fifth-graders and 42 percent of the junior high students said they own mobile phones.

Asked if they cannot put down their handsets even during meals, 6 percent of the fifth-graders said yes, as did 16 percent of the junior high students.

Twenty-one percent of the fifth-graders, and about 24 percent of the junior high school students said they feel anxious when their e-mails to friends go unanswered.

Nearly half of the junior high school students said they habitually exchange e-mails late at night, as did 7 percent of the fifth-graders.

Parents said their biggest worry is their children running up large phone bills. They are also concerned that e-mails may expose them to bullying or extortion, or that the Internet may lead them to harmful websites.

The PTA association says parents must take more responsibility in imposing proper rules because the survey shows that children are very dependent on mobile phones.