VOA慢速英语 科罗拉多州考虑禁止13岁以下儿童使用智能手机

 

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The American state of Colorado is considering a ban on smartphones for children younger than 13.

美国科罗拉多州政府正在考虑一项禁令——禁止向不满13岁的孩子销售智能手机。

A Denver-based doctor - and father - is leading the effort. Tim Farnum is the founder of a group called ‘Parents Against Underage Smartphones.’

丹佛一位已为人父的医生发起了这项活动。蒂姆·法纳姆（Tim Farnum）是Parents Against Underage Smartphones（简称PAUS）组织的创始人。

His proposal would ban sales of smartphones to children under the age of 13. It would also bar sales to anyone who wishes to buy such a device for anyone younger than 13.

法纳姆提议，禁止向不满13岁的孩子销售智能手机。他甚至还建议，禁止向所有打算为不满13岁的孩子购买智能手机的家长出售智能手机。

The measure would also require sellers of smartphones to provide proof to the state government that they have asked buyers if the phone is for anyone under 13.

该提议还要求，零售商销售时应询问手机使用者是否为13岁以下的孩子，然后向州政府提交资料。

The proposal only concerns smartphones, and not cell phones without internet service.

该提议仅针对智能手机 ，没有上网功能的手机不在限制范围内。

The measure now needs about 300,000 signatures in order to appear on Colorado’s statewide ballot in 2018. If it makes the ballot and is approved by voters, Colorado would become the first state to have such a ban.

目前，该项提议需要筹集约30万个签名才能于2018年在科罗拉多发起投票。如果投票顺利进行并获选民投票通过，那么，科罗拉多将成为首个拥有该禁令的州。

Tim Farnum said he decided to push for the measure after watching his own children struggle with the mental effects of always having a smartphone around.

蒂姆称，发起这一活动是因为看到自家孩子随身不离智能手机，对心理造成了很大影响。

“They would get the phones and lock themselves in the room and change who they were,” he told The Coloradoan newspaper.

他向科罗拉多报纸表示：“孩子们拿着手机玩，把自己锁在房内，导致自己发生了改变。”

State Senator John Kefalas, a Democrat, said he understands the reasoning behind the proposed law. However, he told The Coloradoan that a child’s smartphone usage is a “family matter” and not something the government should decide.

科罗拉多州民主党参议员约翰·卡夫拉斯（John Kefalas）表示，他理解提议立法背后的用心良苦。不过，他告诉科罗拉多报纸：“清官难断家务事”，孩子使用智能手机不属于政府管辖范畴。

“Ultimately, this comes down to parents...making sure their kids are not putting themselves at risk.

“最终这件事还是取决于父母……尽量保证孩子远离风险。”

Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics released guidelines for media use by children. The group advised parents to limit time spent watching videos to no more than one hour a day of high-quality programming until age 6. After that, it said, parents should set reasonable time limits for their children and make sure electronic devices do not take time away from sleep or exercise.

去年， 美国儿科学会发布了关于儿童使用媒体的指导意见。该机构建议家长，6岁以下的儿童其每天观看高质量节目的时间应该限定在1小时以内。之后，家长应该合理地限制孩子观看屏幕的时间，确保这些电子产品不会占用睡眠或锻炼身体的时间。

Words in This Story

lock - v. to fasten the door, lid, etc., of (something) with a lock

guideline - n. a rule or instruction that shows or tells how something should be done — usually plural?

ultimately - adj. at the most basic level : in the central or most important way