How old were you when you received your first mobile phone?
Many of us did not receive our first mobiles until our late teens, mid-twenties or even later! Today, the average age that a child will receive their first mobile phone is 10.3 years old.
You may find this shocking, but with technology now leading the future, mobile phones have become a part of everyday life for many. But before giving your child that brand-new iPhone X that they’ve been begging for, it’s a good idea to know what benefits and risks could be involved.
The Benefits
Communication
There’s no doubt that a mobile phone will allow easier communication between you and your child. In an emergency, this may be critical in getting the required help or letting each other know that something has happened. A mobile phone can offer a sense of security, knowing that you are only a call or SMS away. Whether they’re letting you know they’ll be home a bit later because the bus was late, or if they just want to know “What’s for dinner?”, you will never feel like you’re too far away from each other!
A Learning Tool
A mobile phone is not just a phone anymore. It’s a tool which can be used to access the entire online world. While it’s likely that your child will use their mobile phone for communication and fun and games, they also have the ability to utilise it for educational apps, online learning and looking up information relating to school work. You’re probably thinking they won’t be focused on anything other than Facebook or Pokémon Go. But if guidelines are clearly set for how they should be using their mobile phone and they are shown how it should be used for educational purposes, your child may pleasantly surprise you.
Building Responsibility
It’s true that your child probably already has a lot to be responsible for, and you still have to remind them to do their homework! But introducing them to the world of mobile phones can be a game changer for your child’s independence. Not only do they have to physically care for the phone in terms of avoiding damage and making sure it stays charged, but introducing financial responsibility to the ‘new toy’ gimmick early on you can prepare them for the future. Setting usage limits and rules on what you will pay for and any extras they need to pay for will develop money management skills and an overall appreciation for budgeting.
The Risks
Cyber Bullying
How can a mobile phone threaten your child’s safety? While mobile phones can be beneficial, safety is something that will need to be seriously considered. A study in 2017 revealed that 1 in 4 children have experienced cyber bullying. As you cannot fully control how your child interacts or is interacted with by others, as parents, this is horrible to think about. It is important to inform your child what is and isn’t acceptable when using a mobile phone for communication. Bullies do exist, and you can only show your child how to act in a situation when faced with one and trust in them that will come to you if something were to ever happen. It’s a terrifying thought, but it can be prevented and overcome.
Sexual, Violent or Ill Content
A mobile phone will no doubt give your child independence and the opportunity to access the internet like never before. However, with the inability to control the content that is viewed on a mobile device outside of home Wi-Fi, children are more likely to be exposed to sexual, violent or other ill content. This can include the all-too-common sexting – your child might receive an image or SMS containing sexual content and it won’t necessarily be invited or wanted. It all comes back to education and establishing that relationship with your child, so they know they can come to you for guidance if they were to be exposed to any material that makes them uncomfortable.
Personal Information
With scams evolving online, how do you know your child’s personal information will be safe? Depending on the age of your child, he or she might have the knowledge of banking information. It is important to show your child how to identify a scam and what personal information is acceptable to submit or post online, especially home address and phone number.
A study in 2016 has revealed that 60% of Australian parents let their children lie about their age to access social media. If children lie about their age, this can lead to them being targeted by online predators, every parent’s worst nightmare. We recommend that you discuss the guidelines for what is expected when using the mobile phone for social media and sticking to the recommended ages that applications set.
Health Concerns
There are much more immediate concerns with increased use of mobile phones. What’s known as “blue light”, the amount of short-wave, high energy illumination emitted by LED screens robs us of sleep. For children especially, REM sleep is vital for mental and physical development. It’s important to understand that mobile phones are not alone in this threat, any LED-screened device will have the same effect. But with mobile phones being able to do just about everything these days it’s understandable that these do-it-all devices could be the big punchers when it comes to affecting sleep patterns.
Navigating the Pitfalls
With any type of decision making you need to remember that quality should outweigh quantity. Although on paper it may seem like the negatives outnumber the benefits, making sure you recognise, prepare for and beat the pitfalls can leave you with an easy decision to make. So, let’s talk about how you can make sure you’re prepared:
1. Set boundaries of usage – establish what sort of sites are acceptable and what times can be spent online
2. Monitor your child’s usage – set passwords yourself so you can access the phone at any stage if required
3. If your child struggles to follow the set rules, consider subscribing to a kid safe platform that helps you enforce the rules about online activity
4. Watch out for bill shock – choose a plan than has adequate data and call credit, and monitor it. Unlimited talk and text plans are now available for as little as $10 a month
5. Model healthy behaviour around the way you use your phone at home so your kids can learn the same healthy habits
So what age will you give your child their first mobile phone? There is no right or wrong answer, and your decision should be made independent of average ages and stats, considering only your child’s awareness of cyber safety and social awareness. Remember that while the online world can be a dark place, with the right education, it can become a world of opportunity.