Freedom and Responsibility: Mobile Device Safety for Kids

​Mobile devices have become an everyday part of family life: 77 percent of teens and 56 percent of kids 8 through 11 now own cell phones. While smartphones are great for coordinating after school pick-ups, chatting, gaming with friends, or even helping with homework, they can also put kids at risk from online predators, identity thieves, and cyber bullies. Here are some tips to keep your child safe.

Before giving them the phone:

• Talk with the child about appropriate use and safety. They should tell you right away if anyone bullies them or strangers approach them online or through calls or messages. Show them how to block people who contact them inappropriately. Explain the importance of avoiding sexual or hateful content and not participating in bullying or “sexting.” Make sure they know school rules about mobile devices. For teens, forbid texting while driving and explain the consequences if they do it. (Many smartphone operating systems now help prevent this.) Some experts suggest making a contract with your child so they understand that having a smart phone is a privilege that must be earned.
• Install parental control software, so you can block access to inappropriate websites, downloads, and content. There are plenty of good apps for mobile devices. Many let you monitor activity, and some will even send you alerts if suspicious activity is detected. Also go through the parental control settings on the device itself.
• Protect against loss of the phone and information on it. Kids lose stuff, so put contact information on the case and set up the remote/lock locate program for the device.
• Secure the device with a password that you and child both know, and teach them never to lend the device, even to friends. (Strangers could steal personal information from the phone or infect it with spyware, and even friends could unwittingly download malware.)

Once your child has a phone:

• Set house rules for device usage: for example, no devices during family meals, homework times, or after bedtime. Set up an overnight charging station in a public area of your home to remove the temptation to chat or game instead of sleeping.
• Have a weekly device check where the child shows you what they’ve been doing and downloading. When the monthly bill comes, review it to be sure they are sticking to usage and download rules.
• Be alert to signs of cyberbullying, and step in immediately if you see them.

Finally, keep lines of communication open. As long as your child feels comfortable talking to you about their concerns and discoveries online, you’ll be able to intervene quickly if they get into trouble. With supervision, clear expectations, and good communication, giving your child a mobile phone can provide them new freedom and you with peace of mind.