Cell phones which became popular (and affordable) among all layers of society in Armenia during recent years, may have a quite negative impact on minors, specialists warned at a forum today.

Concerns were raised especially over SMS dating and SMS voting so often advertised on TV which sometimes demand unexpected expenditures from parents. Besides, very often, children (students) do not switch off their cell phones during school, disturbing lessons.

The forum was called among NGOs and official bodies that included the RA Ministry of Education and Science, and departments of education at Regional Administration Bodies.

Anush Beghloyan, head of public relations department of ArmenTel telecommunication company, says that according to an informal survey held by the company, more than 80 percent of schoolchildren in Yerevan have cell phones.

“A great part of school headmasters believe that it is necessary completely ban usage of cell phones at schools; others think that they must simply be switched off during lessons, and some suggest giving special boxes to schoolchildren in the schools, where they can keep their cell phones,” says Mira Antonyan director of Children's Support Centre of the Fund for Armenian Relief (organizer of the forum).

The forum also discussed issues related to child safety and the danger of minors becoming vulnerable to child predators.

Specialists believe that the best solution in this case is making children and their parents aware of the ethics of cell phone usage, because there are no mechanisms of control in this sphere.

For example, ArmenTel Company drafted a charter on ethics of cell phone usage, and it plans to hold trainings at provincial schools of Armenia to introduce the charter in the nearest future.