Students in Guangzhou are expressing an increasing interest in exchanging name cards with their classmates and friends, according to Information Times.

 

 

Pupils express a keen interest in exchanging name cards in Guangzhou. The name cards with popular cartoon characters to a certain extent stimulate pupils' purchasing power.

 

Many pupils regard these name cards as a more convenient way to remember their contact information. They are distinctly different from name cards seen in the professional sector, presented more like classmate address book entries.

 

"We usually send a blank card to our closest classmates or friends asking for name, MSN, email and phone number. Some may also add their class position on it. After collecting the contact information, we get the cards and keep them," a pupil said. "Also, the cards are very beautiful, not like common address books!"

 

They said name cards are only for close classmates or good friends, adding that they would never give them out to teachers or strangers.

 

Many stores are cashing in on the craze by selling cards with popular cartoon characters or superstars printed on them. The prices range from 0.5 yuan (about US$0.06) to 2 yuan, which is affordable for students.

 

However, experts, parents, and schools are worried about the safety of this seemingly innocent fad.

 

Chen Yijing, an expert with Guangzhou youth institute, is concerned these cards, which contain private information, are in danger of falling into the wrong hands. Moreover, some cards with pupils' class positions on them could result in unhealthy jealousy and competition among children.

 

Some parents think unwitting young children are more likely to issue their name cards to strangers, exposing their family's information.

 

 

Zhang Jinting, the headmaster of a local elementary school, agrees that trouble could soon follow once personal information on the cards is revealed. Additionally, he believes it's unnecessary for pupils to issue name cards to each another, and therefore not worth the risk of making private contact information public.

 

(CRI April 11, 2007)