Is 5G Slowly Killing Us?
Given the current pace of technological change, the world can be a scary place. While some
of us embrace these changes, others prefer to err on the side of caution . . . and in
some cases have been proven right to worry!
This is Unveiled, and today we’re answering the extraordinary question: Is 5G slowly killing
us?
Are you a fiend for facts? Are you constantly curious? Then why not subscribe to Unveiled
for more clips like this one? And ring the bell for more fascinating content!
5G is the fifth generation of cellular network technology, rolled out commercially in 2019.
By using higher frequency radio waves, it provides a much faster connection to the internet
for cell phones and other devices. In fact, it’s supposed to be at least ten times faster
than 4G LTE. For the time-being, it’s only live in a few cities, like London and New
York, so coverage remains spotty. But already, concerns about how much infrastructure will
have to be built are dominating much of the discussion. Anti-5G activists around the world
are already petitioning local councils to block the technology, out of concern that
the radio waves it uses could be dangerous. There are worries about the abundance of “electromagnetic
interference” in the world, and that the waves might be carcinogenic and affect child
development.
First, let’s get something straight about radio waves. The electromagnetic spectrum
is vast, home to all sorts of different waves, from dangerous gamma rays, to visible light,
and radio waves. These all count as electromagnetic “radiation”, since “radiation” refers
to the transmission of energy as waves or particles through space. For some, the fact
that cell phones emit “radiation” is proof enough that the devices are dangerous. But
not all “radiation” is bad for us. It all depends on the wavelength of the radiation
in question. Gamma rays, for example, have extremely short wavelengths, which means they
pack more of a punch and can knock electrons out of their orbits around atomic nuclei.
This is known as “ionizing radiation”, and it can damage DNA and cause danger. Radio
waves, however, travel at much longer wavelengths, and are therefore NON-ionizing.
What frightens people about 5G is the fact that the wavelengths ARE much shorter than
those for 4G, using something called “millimeter waves”. But these “millimeter waves”
have nowhere near the frequencies of gamma rays, or X-rays. Like other radio waves, they’re
non-ionizing. That hasn’t stopped people from worrying though.
Of course, ever since the first mobile phone went on sale in the 1980s, people have been
wary. Rumors that phones can give you cancer have pervaded pop culture and the media. Critics
claim that their effects haven’t been properly tested. But . . . that isn’t actually true.
In fact, in the last decades, many studies have been undertaken, and none have established
that cell phones have adverse health effects. The World Health Organization DOES list radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic”, meaning that it can’t be completely ruled
out without further studies. But so far, even though our cell phone use has exploded in
recent years, there’s been no commensurate increase in brain tumours or cancers, once
we adjust for improved diagnostic techniques.
There is a real and growing anti-5G movement however, fuelled by lots of misinformation
about its alleged dangers. Its principal champions include Dutch “UFO researcher” John Kuhles
and alleged Russian propaganda outlet RT America, who warn of an approaching “5G Apocalypse”.
The outlet has been accused of pushing the conspiracy to delay the US in its implementation
of 5G, so that Russia can develop superior infrastructure - although it’s a theory
that’s pretty tough to prove. Either way, the movements are becoming so prevalent that
in the lead up to 2019’s Glastonbury Festival, mobile network operator EE had to put together
a community outreach program to address fears about their 5G trial.
According to some conspiracy theorists, corporations and governments KNOW that 5G is dangerous,
and want to roll it out anyway. But that . . . doesn’t make a lot of sense. In time, the technology
will become pervasive, and replace 4G. Why would people want to harm not only their own
citizens, or customers, but also themselves and their families? Installing 5G is also
an incredibly expensive undertaking, estimated by some to be in the billions of dollars.
Why go to all that trouble and spend all that money, for a technology that would ultimately
have to be dismantled in light of further studies?
This doesn’t mean that 5G is perfect, however. There are people who are sceptical for good
reasons, because it DOES have drawbacks. While it’s many times faster than 4G, it has a
much shorter range – only 1,000 feet compared to 4G’s 10 miles. This means that we’ll
need antennae and receivers all over the place to gain consistent 5G coverage. It’s the
installation of these that will cost so much money.
While this might not cost consumers, buying a fancy 5G phone will. At the time of writing,
there were barely half a dozen 5G handsets available for purchase. And while more will
inevitably become available, it’ll take years for them to come down in price. Smartphones
are already expensive investments, so paying an additional 300 bucks or so to get one with
5G, when 5G isn’t even available yet in most parts of the world, is something that
few people can justify. It won’t kill you, but it might kill your bank account.
Another big issue is that 5G waves are more easily blocked than 4G waves, including by
trees, so getting super-fast coverage to rural areas would be even more difficult than it
is already.
As far as the anti-5G movement is concerned, however, this is merely a case of history
repeating itself. People are always scared of change, especially technological change,
and often view it as frightening and unnecessary. Take for example the adoption of electric
lighting. You probably think nothing of the electric light bulbs you have in your home.
But a little over a century ago, many people hated the thought of electric lighting becoming
the norm, despite the problems with gas lighting. Electric lights in the home were adopted slowly
and grudgingly, with frightening stories about the dangers of electricity circulating everywhere.
People worried that installing all that electric wiring would be like inviting lightning into
their home. But ultimately, the technology won out, and these ideas seem almost absurd
to us today. What’s more concerning than 5G is the misinformation that circulates around
it. And there are still a few years before it becomes a global reality.
As far as we know, based on existing studies, cell-phone cancer is just another scary story
doing the rounds online, right as a new and misunderstood technology is about to be embraced.
And that’s why 5G isn’t slowly killing us.
What do you think? Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments, check out these
other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you subscribe and ring the bell for our latest
content.