Momentum is building in the campaign to try to protect children from harmful smartphone use. Earlier this year, Miriam Cates MP led a lively debate on this subject, while the Education Committee led an inquiry entitled, ‘Screen Time – Impacts on Education and Wellbeing’. The grassroots movement, including Smartphone Free Childhood, Safe Screens and others is gathering pace. The latter organisation is in fact actively supporting MP Josh MacAlister’s Safer Phones Bill launched earlier this month, which aims to “make smartphones less addictive for children and empower families and teachers to cut down on children’s daily smartphone screen time”.
The dangers of smartphone use are clearly serious and encompass addiction, harmful content, exposure to sexual abuse and bullying, disruption of learning, behavioural changes through the habits adopted and the loss of previously normal childhood activities and social interactions. The movement hails Jonathan Haidt as the “world’s leading voice” on the damage caused to children by a phone-based childhood. Haidt identifies the damage as an “adolescent mental health crisis”.
The diagnosis, therefore, is overwhelmingly one of psychological damage. What I find astounding, however, is that with the exception of Safe Screens, no-one has mentioned the effects on children’s health of the wireless radiation signals emitted by smart devices, Wi-Fi or phone masts. All appear to assume that the only issue is the way children interact with screens along with the harmful social media content.
Why are we not hearing the other side of the story? The belief that wireless or radio-frequency radiation (RFR) is safe is promoted in the media too. A case in point is the recent Guardian article about the WHO systematic review concluding that mobile phone use is not linked to cancer, but not mentioning other reviews, which reached the opposite conclusion. A previous Guardian article promoted the view that 5G is safe, though it relied only on the naturally biased statements of telecoms’ chiefs from EE and Vodafone. Another one belittled the problems suffered by those with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) and in 2019, the BBC Reality Check Team concluded that 5G would be safe, quoting the U.K. Government, the WHO and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), whose safety exposure guidelines are followed in the U.K.
Yet, a little longer ago, the risks of wireless radiation were taken more seriously. In 2007, a Panorama programme looked at the health risks of Wi-Fi in schools with electronics expert Alasdair Philips. A Government leaflet from 2011 stated: “The U.K. Chief Medical Officers advise that children and young people under 16 should be encouraged to use mobile phones for essential purposes only, and to keep calls short.” And on another page the Government recommends that “excessive use of mobile phones by children should be discouraged”. This was based on the recommendations of the Stewart Report produced in 2000 by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones.
So why has there been no campaign to publicise the risks of mobile phone use and other RFR-emitting devices, especially for children? Instead, the opposite happened: the Government, through the now defunct British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, promoted the use of wireless technologies in schools, so that now there is hardly a school without them. During the lockdown the Government wanted every child to use a laptop, hardly any of which would have been hard-wired via ethernet cables.
Research on specific harms to children from wireless technology had been presented to MPs in December 2017 by Dr. Sarah Starkey, neuroscientist, when she gave evidence to the Early Years Inquiry. She emphasised the fact “that effects are seen in animal studies indicates that the radiofrequency signals themselves can have adverse effects, and it is not just children or young people accessing social media/internet through mobile devices, or time spent looking at screens”. She cited evidence from human and animal studies showing “effects on development during pregnancy, effects on children and young people, on brain development, fertility and increased risk of cancers”. Examples discussed included ADHD, DNA damage, reduced memory and attention and the alteration of electrical brain activity. Why does no-one appear to have heard about this?
Naturally the question arises, “What is actually going on?” Is it possible that only one side of the debate is being presented to the public? If so, why? Or is the issue that we are all in denial about possible harms to health, because none of us can live without our smartphones and so shut our ears to potential issues?
To try to get an answer to these questions, I will consider briefly two recent pieces of research, stating broadly that there is no link between mobile phone use and cancer. One is the large cohort study, Cosmos, and the other a systematic review carried out by the WHO’s EMF project.
The Cosmos interim paper, published in March 2024, concluded, “Our findings to date, together with other available scientific evidence, suggest that mobile phone use is not associated with increased risk of developing these tumours.” However in August 2024 a group of scientists representing the recently formed International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF) published a paper recommending that the Cosmos authors retract their conclusion, due to serious methodological problems.
They also pointed out that: “COSMOS was partially funded by the telecommunications industry in three countries, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom and that despite the authors’ claim that a ‘firewall’ agreement ensured ‘complete scientific independence’, the study design was negotiated with Ericsson prior to adoption of this agreement.” Further details of this conflict of interest are detailed by the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, which also states that “The study was carried out by researchers with a long tradition of dismissing health risks from mobile phone radiation” and that several of them were members of ICNIRP, a further conflict of interest.
Coming to the WHO systematic review and meta-analysis, published in August this year, this looked at 63 studies and concluded that exposure to wireless radiation (RF) from mobile phones or phone masts is unlikely to cause brain cancer or childhood cancer and that occupational exposure may not cause brain cancer.
Coming to quite a different conclusion, Dr. Joel Moskowitz from the University of California published a similar review in 2020 based on 46 of these studies, which found “significant evidence linking cellular phone use to increased tumour risk”. On his own webpage, Moskowitz lists many concerns about the way the 2024 WHO review was conducted and mentions five other studies from 2016 and 2017, which did show a causal link between mobile phone use and cancer. Since the publication of the WHO review, a South Korean study published this month found “significantly elevated risks for three types of brain tumours when examining tumours on the side of the head where cell phones were held” according to Moskowitz.
It therefore seems absolutely clear that there is no scientific consensus that RFR is safe for human health. But who should we believe? Professor John Frank in his article ‘Electromagnetic fields, 5G and health: what about the precautionary principle?‘ makes it clear that there are wide fluctuations in safety exposure limits put into practice globally and states that the guidelines suggested by ICNIRP are so lax, because ICNIRP members do not believe that damage can occur to human health unless body tissue is heated by RF radiation. This appears to be the main difference between ICNIRP members and the many scientists who say that damage occurs below the heating threshold. ICNIRP is recognised as “an official collaborating non-state actor by the WHO” and membership is by invitation only to the like-minded.
The non-scientist is still left with the problem of which side to believe. The Court of Appeal in Turin, however, made short work of this problem, confirming that there was a causal link between an acoustic neuroma and a worker’s use of the mobile phone, because it decided to give less weight to scientific evidence involving conflicts of interest. The judges wrote in this important judgment: “Indeed, the Tribunal recognises that telephone industry-funded scientists, or members of the ICNIRP, are less reliable than independent scientists.”
I am including a link to the English translation of this judgment, which should be essential reading for anyone interested in the question of whom to trust in this debate.
Returning to the WHO systematic review, Microwave News, run by Dr. Louis Slesin, maintains that the same small interconnected group of people involved in the WHO EMF project, ICNIRP and SCENHIR, have a long history of maintaining the no-risk narrative. He states: “In short, the new (WHO) systematic review is an ICNIRP production.” More detailed information on the conflicts of interest involving ICNIRP and WHO EMF project authors can be found in this 90-page document by two MEPs, the late Michèle Rivasi and Professor Klaus Buchner.
This year, several other WHO systematic reviews have been published and again have been severely criticised with requests for retractions from scientists. The critiques are here (effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes), here (effects on tinnitus etc.) and here (effects on oxidative stress).
I imagine that most people would agree with the Turin Court of Appeal, that conflicts of interest may call into question scientific conclusions and indeed the Physicians’ Health Initiative for Radiation and Environment (PHIRE) has identified ways in which research can be biased or corrupted.
It is, however, still difficult to understand why the media would not give us both sides of the story, especially when so much is at stake. Could it be that there is financial gain for them in supporting the narrative of the telecoms companies and the WHO? Or, I wonder if the recent BBC Panorama programme following youngsters, who had given up their smartphones for a week, can give us a clue? It ended, rather lamely, by asking one of the mothers whether she would support a ban on smartphones for youngsters. She replied that she wouldn’t, as she was on it all the time herself.
In other words, adults would appear to be as addicted as children to their smartphones and cannot imagine life without one. When I reveal that I don’t possess one, people wonder how I manage. Well, usually quite easily. I wait until I get home to go online and am happy not to be distracted by a phone when I am out. It just involves a little extra advance-planning. Because I am aware of the health risks, I use a wired landline and an ethernet-wired computer. I also had my smart meter removed. Luckily, I am semi-retired, as a working environment with the inevitable Wi-Fi would not suit me.
How to use technology in a safer way is one of the topics to be discussed at an important scientific conference next week. Alasdair Philips from the 2007 Panorama programme will answer questions on this topic.
This conference, on November 9th in Forest Row, East Sussex, is entitled, ‘Wireless Radiation: the Elephant in the Classroom’ and will discuss research showing how children’s health is impacted by wireless radiation, as well as highlighting effects on wildlife. Expert international speakers include the American epidemiologist and toxicologist Dr. Devra Davis and U.K.-based expert in electromagnetic hypersensitivity Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe. In addition, Deborah Fry will relate a personal story. The booking link gives further information.
It is to be hoped that U.K. campaigners seeking to protect children from the negative effects of smartphones will also inform themselves about the effect on health of radio-frequency radiation, just as the recent Macron Commission report on Children and Screens has done. Section 2.1.4 of the report, to be found from p.32 onwards, deals with those effects mentioning tumours, endocrine disruption and cognitive effects among others.
Unless Wes Streeting is about to inaugurate a new era, we can expect the U.K. Government to take no responsibility for this issue. In fact, the committee (COMARE) supposedly reporting (but actually not) to Government on health effects of RFR only has a “watching brief”, which no doubt means accepting the findings of the WHO reviews without question. Is that really good enough for the British people?
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Why? Because the notion of RFI causing injury has about as solid a basis in reality as the notion of carbon dioxide causing climate change. It might therefore be weaponised by people who seek power by “Alarming the Populace with an Imaginary Hobgoblin”. Fortunately, RFI-phobia has not yet caught on, though doubtless researchers from competing cults will be paid to “model” the bio-electrical system.
(On the related matter of alleged psychological harm caused by change in habits of interpersonal communication, especially adolescents, I do not express an opinion.)
Most 5G alarmists are crackpots who are ignorant of proper scientific analysis and a sensible approach to risk. Treat all such alarmism with a big pinch of scepticism (this is the Daily Sceptic after all).
There are many links to conflicting scientific analysis in this article. I think you will find that systematic reviews and meta-analyses are hefty pieces of work.
CirrusFlyer, well yes a good number of activists who have an online and social media presence are (deliberately) quite objectionable. This has been engineered to besmirch the reputation of anyone raising awareness. It’s a well known tactic and it always surprises me that no one realises!
And do you have any evidence to support that contention?
I think Dd2 is referring to the idea of “the best way to control the opposition is to lead it” (attributed to Lenin?) which makes complete sense from the point of view of the powers that be.
For high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific research on biological detriment from RF radiation (RFR, not ‘RFI’) including clear evidence of cancer see papers and compilations at: National Toxicology Program, Ramazzini Cancer Research Institute, Environmental Health Trust (founder Dr Devra Davis, member of Nobel winning team and former scientific adviser to US govt), PHIREmedical, Physicians for Safe Technology, Bioinitiative Org. ICBE-EMF have explained in detail the flaws in the official science, and independent RF scientists have repeatedly pointed out the issues with ICNIRP and the FCC who set the ‘guidelines’ blindly followed by the UK government. See also the referenced Lancet article on planetary electrosmog showing that the belief that RFR is non-harmful is scientifically outdated.
If you are worried about RFI damaging your person then find a deep mine to live in, away from the relentless blasts coming from our star and outer space.
On the damaging effects of smartphone addiction and the ever-growing need for instant and passive gratification turning children and adolescents into brainless, dependent automatons – yes, the parents need to step in to sort that out – without interference from the state.
And as for the brainless, dependent adult automatons… Well, I don’t know what to do about that. Perhaps the seemingly inevitable power cuts the UK is heading for will help in this matter.
I think that’ll help us all in a strange kind of way… disconnect
Many are concerned with smartphone addiction, especially when it affects youngsters learning, from not learning social norms to being unable to concentrate.
Jonathan Haidt suggests involving all parents at a school, and getting non-smartphones for the under 13 or 14, so their own children aren’t isolated from electronic social circles. It’s the one-to-many social media that is the problem, while emails are one-to-one, so are possible.
I did hear that a government was considering giving schools the power, subject to parental consultation, to do this, so children couldn’t invoke the HRA.
Perhaps treated the same was as voting, sex, marriage, drugs and alcohol? All restricted until the individual is old enough?
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A comprehensive article thank you. Why is it that as soon as 5G is mentioned the hecklers pop out of the woodwork? There are now nearly 30 thousand studies mentioning electromagnetic frequencies (wi-fi and all of the G’s, not just 5G) and human animal and plant health. Over 74 % of studies show harm to health, yet time and time again this huge body of evidence is ignored. All I can say is that the human species suffers from an excess of Cognitive dissonance. To those commentating in a derogatory way, I’d advise looking up the term and taking a look at the 30K or more studies on the orsaa.org database. Then and only then tell me that you want your children to get addicted to a screen who’s content is solely due to the transmission of harmful frequencies.
Hope you’re not referring to anyone here as hecklers!
Let’s not give the authorities any more reasons to “protect” us from non-existent threats, please.
I recognise the hugely compelling and potentially damaging world of social media etc. I make my children aware of the risks and stand ready to help them make sense of it all. I certainly do not want the state trying to “protect” them nor to “help” me in that endeavour.
I do not worry about their brains or any other part of their bodies being fried by very, very weak electromagnetic radiation because it isn’t happening.
I do tell them all about natural sources of electromagnetic radiation which are many thousands of times more powerful. See what happens to your naked skin when the sun is in the sky on a summer’s day? I advise them merely to moderate exposure, because I don’t like the ingredients of sunscreen smeared all over my skin, and certainly not their more fragile skins.
Having said all this, The Invisible Rainbow has been recommended to me by two people I respect greatly on other matters. I shall see if it changes my mind.
Fwiw I found The Invisible Rainbow a bit patchy – useful in parts, woowoo in others. Inconclusive but net, net – worth the time invested.
But surely there has been one lesson from last 5 yrs: if you are mocked for employing the precautionary principle on a health matter, every alarm bell in your body should ring.
leaving one with a Q on 5G: why on earth would anyone advise against caution?
The Precautionary Principle is what you do before any investigation is made.
Those invoking the Precautionary Principle for Climate have ended up with a Climate Emergency, just because the BBC say so, and NET Zero policies, that are expected to cost each UK family over £300,000.
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2024/10/25/press-release-net-zero-could-cost-300000-per-household
And there is plenty of evidence that it is the Sun that controls the Earth’s Climate, but Meteorologists know little Solar Physics, and so we continue with a fantasy theory.
The “Climate Emergency” is based on computer modelling. The Precautionary Principle is based on the fact that many studies show harmful effects of non-ionising radiation, though they are not 100% conclusive, but studies rarely are as study desgn, execution and funding source may skew results.
Glad you are open to having your mind changed as this is important. Natural EM radiation isn’t comparable with manmade RFR – it is pulsed, we did not evolve with it, it penetrates the body, it oxidises cells deep in the body and damages DNA. Sunlight isn’t ‘stronger’, it’s entirely different and it is puzzling that people make that mistake; possibly that is because Big Wireless likes to perpetuate that myth. For reliable up-to-date science from genuinely independent experts the best resources are ehtrust.org, PHIREmedical.org, and bioinitiative.org. See also the NTP study on cell phones and heart tumours. The recent COSMOS study from the revolving door group (WHO/ICNIRP), widely reported in mainstream media has been thoroughly critiqued and exposed as flawed here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024003933?via%3Dihub whilst the exposure guidelines which are laughably invalid are discussed by experts here: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00900-9 and there is also an excellent referenced overview in The Lancet here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30221-3/fulltext. We are not short of evidence, we are short of mainstream media and governments reporting on the evidence, and picking only the ‘tobacco science’ to make their lucrative reassurances.
Can somebody please grasp the difference between g for generation and G for Gigahertz, they are totally different.
The next thing to grasp is the difference between ionising and non-ionising radiation. Below a certain frequency in the X-ray range, the photons from radio transmitters do not have sufficient energy to break chemical bonds, their only measureable effect on body tissue is thermal and the only part of the body that is vulnerable is the crystalline lens in the eye due to its lack of blood supply to carry away the heat.
There have been attempts to blame radio signals for many problems. Double blind testing has revealed no correlation with any of the reports and the field strength involved.
I’ve been resisting explaining things because I’ve found I don’t have the patience and I now find the fight too stressful. So I just remind myself that the truth needs no maintenance. But well done for banging the drum for sense, Tyrbiter… It seems people really need stuff to get frightened about, and clamour for more “protection”…
Most current 4G masts are up high. My understanding is that the 5G masts will be: lower down, much more numerous and quite high-powered in order to facilitate the data needed to aid driverless cars etc.
The downsides of living near power cables is well known but not widely publicised. There is a reasonable chance the 5G could provide a long term harm to health. I would be cautious and be one of the last to market.
If you want capacity then you need density which means lower power to reduce the frequency reuse distance. Cellular planning 101.
I have tried in the past but there are too many closed minds.
If they have home broadband then there are almost certainly being bathed constantly in 5Ghz radiation as well as 2.4 GHz.
If they have a mobile phone, I guess they have survived the scares about 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G phone masts sufficiently well to start worrying about the 5th generation, and best of luck spotting the masts for that.
Double blind testing has done no such thing. Harm has been known, and covered up with ‘tobacco science,’ for decades. There are around 2000 peer reviewed studies showing harm, listed on physicians’ and scientists’ websites such as ehtrust.org, PHIREmedical.org, bioinitiative.org and others. The 10 year authoritative, conclusive NTP program found ‘clear evidence’ of tumours. It is irrelevant and narrow to dismiss the known harms because of non-ionising radiation and chemical bonds. The damage to DNA occurs nonetheless, through oxidation, VGCCs and other biological effects.
The number of studies leaning in one direction or other is not sufficient proof of anything, just as it is claimed human caused climate change is true because 97% of climate scientists agreed with this assertion.
The electromagnetic spectrum is shown below and 5G falls below sunlight in the non-ionizing wave lengths. However, 5G is in the microwave part of the spectrum and if given enough energy and concentration it will heat anything with water in it. In addition to microwave, anyone working with radio/TV transmitter towers have to take precautions when in close proximity to these powerful transmitters, close meaning within feet, which include limiting the time near the transmitters or having the transmitter turned off.
Transmitter power is measured in Watts and it is this that is dangerous if high enough and a person is close enough. The higher the wattage the longer the range.
Crystal Palace is the joint most powerful transmitter in the country at 200kW and has a range as far out as Reading.
For 5G Antenna transmission power is anywhere between 250mW for a Small Cell, and 120W for the largest 5G MIMO arrays. A typical 2G, 3G, or 4G antenna has got a transmission power of 20W. The range is low compared to Crystal Palace. Also when there is good coverage the individual mobile phone will transmit at lower power.
The issue of ‘screen time’ damaging children’s cognitive abilities has nothing to do with radio waves and everything to do with the time spent focused on a screen giving endless dopamine ‘hits’.
Massive basic flaws here. Thermal effects are one thing but the point is that a huge body of authoritative research from genuinely independent experts shows that harmful biological effects occur even at low levels of manmade RFR. Natural EM radiation isn’t comparable with manmade RFR – it is pulsed, we did not evolve with it, it penetrates the body, it oxidises cells deep in the body and damages DNA. See compilations of peer reviewed science showing biological harm at ehtrust.org, PHIREmedical.org, and bioinitiative.org. See also the NTP study on cell phones and heart tumours. The recent COSMOS study claiming safety is flawed as detailed here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024003933?via%3Dihub whilst the exposure guidelines which are laughably invalid are discussed by experts here: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00900-9 and there is also an excellent referenced overview in The Lancet here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30221-3/fulltext. We are not short of evidence, we are short of mainstream media and governments reporting on the evidence, and picking only the ‘tobacco science’ to make their lucrative reassurances and postpone the debate indefinitely, with deniers making flawed arguments about sunlight, thermal effects and non-ionising radiation which are irrelevant to the problem in hand.
The Lancet supports Man Made Climate Change narratives, Covid Lockdowns and mass vaccination using mRNA type therapies. You use the pejorative term ‘denier’ which is emotive and a shameful attempt to create an equivalence between someone sceptical of your views and a Holocaust denier.
However, I will read your links and also ask radio experts that I know.
My opinion as an electronic engineer;
1.) Whether it’s 5G or 4G, I do have some concerns about an RF transmitter capable of outputting a few Watts of power operating right next to your brain.
2.) Taking into account the enormous amount of money involved (telecom companies), I am doubtful that an objective study could be carried out at the moment.
3.) Taking into account the fact that very few people would be willing to give up their phones, I also doubt that any warning or advice about adverse effects would make a difference on people’s behaviour.
Given the abundance of clear evidence that manmade electromagnetic radiation, which is not comparable with natural forms (sunlight does not pass through walls or bodies for example), is biologically harmful (neurological, endocrine, carcinogenic and other harms have all been repeatedly proven) the denying comments below are either ignorant or biased. Note the lack of evidence also from the deniers. Non-ionising radiation may not directly break bonds, but research shows that it oxidises cells and damages DNA so it is irrational to dismiss harms based on the outdated ‘but it’s non-ionising’ mantra. For high quality research on biological detriment including clear evidence of cancer see papers and compilations at: National Toxicology Program, Ramazzini Cancer Research Institute, Environmental Health Trust, Phire Medical, Physicians for Safe Technology. ICBE-EMF have explained in detail the flaws in the official science, and independent RF scientists have repeatedly pointed out the issues with ICNIRP and the FCC who set the ‘guidelines’ blindly followed by the UK government. Note ICNIRP look only at thermal effects and, amazingly, do not review the thousands of studies showing biological harm. Children are at particular risk and it is time the UK government and schools did their duty of care and set regulations for ethernet only at schools, as has been officially advised in other countries such as France, Russia, Israel, and Cyprus. Children are currently part of an experiment – this technology has not been around long – and it is dangerous and wrong to put them at risk in this way.
“sunlight does not pass through walls”
Phew. Thankfully we can all Stay At Home.
The problems referred to by the author are easily avoided by wearing a tinfoil hat, which prevents the microwave radiation from reaching the brain…
However she is being rather silly in trying to avoid wifi radiation by not having wifi or a smart meter in her home. Her home will still be bathed in microwave radiation, both natural and from her neighbours’ wifi systems.
Therein lies the problem. We are irradiated involountarily – without consent. However not having wifi or smart devices at home still reduces the radiation.
“Other Countries Are Taking the Health Risks of 5G and Wireless Radiation Seriously. Why Isn’t the U.K.?”
Because it’s a non-problem hyped up by people with no understanding of EM radiation and its biological effect.
Years ago the same sort of lunatics insisted that overhead HT wires caused leukaemia. They don’t.
Yes, they do, and industry/government claims to the contrary have been exposed as flawed. Are people like you paid by industry to comment this way on articles exposing harms from RFR and EMFs? Your evidence-free, ad hominem approach does not reflect well on you. https://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20140207-powerlines-childhood-leukaemia.asp
Why does the author amalgamate the non-risk 5G with risks from masts, WiFi and mobiles, thus diminishing the potential risk of the latter? The possible wireless radiation risks were discussed decades ago, chiefly by NZ and German scientists (easy internet search). To convince the readership, the author may consider concentrating on side effects on those residing close to masts, especially on the masts’ “beam corridors”, or using obsessively mobiles. Alasdair Philips is a priceless source of information on the topic.
The author did not mention 5G. The title is given by the editor. The article is mainly about the covering up of the science showing harm from RFR generally.
The people don’t take things seriously. For example many leave their wifi routers on all night. You can easily wire any device to be cable only doesn’t cost much you can buy adapters on Amazon which will use the power cables in your houise to transmit data and then you can connect an Ethernet cable and their are adapters available for smaller devices. It isn’t my intention to lecture but you can’t just assume that because something is invisible and it doesn’t produce immediate noticeable sensory effects then it is perfectly safe. This is an assumption based on absolutely nothing.