Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who claims that cell phone radiation causes nerve and cellular damage, praises cell phone restrictions in schools.

Appearing on the American talk show Fox & Friends, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed the health effects of cell phones and said that children should not use cell phones at school.

Kennedy praises cell phone bans in schools, for science-backed and tenuous reasons

RFK Jr. on why kids should not be able to use cellphones in schools

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Kennedy Jr. spoke from a unique perspective about children's cell phone use, linking cell phone and social media use to depression, poor academic performance, and substance abuse. He noted that 'cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation, and having them around all day has been shown to damage children's nerves, cause cell damage, and even lead to cancer.'

For all these reasons, Kennedy Jr. said, 'We know that limiting cell phone use in schools creates a much healthier environment, and that's what teachers want.'

Some studies have shown that social media can

Study reveals that banning smartphones at school improves sleep and mood - GIGAZINE

However, there is no link between cell phones and cancer, and no evidence that they cause cell damage. NBC News, a news media outlet, pointed out that 'the radio frequency radiation emitted by cell phones has much less energy than ionizing radiation such as medical X-rays,' and that 'Kennedy Jr.'s remarks are a strategic attempt to mix scientific fact with misinformation.'

Kennedy Jr. has made a number of questionable claims in other areas, such as suggesting that fast food companies should replace seed oils with beef tallow, but none of his suggestions seem to be backed up by research.

Kennedy Jr. also praised Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin for directing public schools to create a curriculum to regulate cellphones and for allocating $500,000 in funding for the program. He said that he had visited high schools in Virginia and found that students and teachers welcomed the program.

Nine states have already enacted bans or restrictions, and 15 states and Washington, D.C., have proposed regulations, according to KFF, a nonprofit health think tank.

The proposal to restrict cell phone use in schools has bipartisan support, but opinions are divided on the rules. Cell phones have many benefits, from making emergency calls and contacting family members to recording fights and incidents that happen at school.

'Concerns about kids and cell phones are strong in both Republican and Democratic states,' said Annette Campbell Anderson, associate director of the Johns Hopkins School of Safety and Health. 'Policymakers need to weigh all factors, including the benefits of cell phone use, children's health, and the risks to children's distraction.'