Mobile Safety How to Keep Your Children Safe and Connected in Today’S Mobile World
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FAMILY GUIDE TO Mobile Safety How to keep your children safe and connected in today’s mobile world PREPARED BY: SPONSORED BY: • Does your child know how to budget an allow Mobile Phone Features ance? If so, your child might be ready to handle Kids use smartphones for more than making limits on text messages, minutes, and apps. calls and searching for online content. If you • Does your child display good manners in pub decide your child is ready for a smartphone, lic? If so, your child might be ready to use a cell consider the many features that are available phone with courtesy and consideration toward and determine which are right for your family. others. • Texting: It’s how kids communicate, but It’s OK to say “not yet.” If your child wants a cell even adults struggle with the distraction of text phone but isn’t ready, consider setting some goals ing. Can your child resist constantly checking for him to achieve as a way of earning a phone. for texts? • Photos and videos: Kids love taking photos and videos of themselves and their friends. They can instantly post photos on Facebook or text them to all their friends. Is your child mature enough to know which photos and videos are 22% appropriate to share? of kids say they’ve been • Social networking: Facebook, Tumblr, bullied via text message.* Instagram, Twitter. The social networking sites your child enjoys at home will now be accessible via smartphone anytime, any day. Basic cell phone or smartphone? • GPS technology: Many families love know Many kids start with an inexpensive cell phone ing where their children are thanks to GPS and work their way toward a smartphone as they technology. But kids need instructions on how Is Your Child Ready prove to their parents that they can handle the to avoid revealing their location to strangers. added responsibility. If you want your child to have • Games: If your child loves video games, the a mobile phone only for safety reasons, a nofrills smartphone could become more of a gaming for a Mobile Phone? cell phone is probably fine. system than a phone. A child who has a hard time with limits on TV • Movies, TV shows, music, and other MOBILE PHONES ARE PART OF OUR LIVES. so, your child may be ready for a cell phone. and computer time may not be ready for the many media: It’s getting easier to download movies, They’re powerful tools, and more and more • Does your child need a cell phone for safety apps available for a smartphone. television shows, and music, providing instant children are using them. For parents, the chal reasons? If so, it may be time. If your child wants Research the cost of the phone and the plan access to all kinds of entertainment. lenge is to make sure their children can handle a cell phone for social reasons, it might be best when determining whether a smartphone is right the responsibility and understand the risks the to wait. for your child. An older child might be able to earn technology brings. money to pay for part of the smartphone bill. Consider insuring your child’s smartphone, es out of Is your child ready for a cell pecially if your child has a history of losing things. kids who have a phone? Make sure your child knows how the insurance Average age kids mobile phone have There is no ideal age to give a child a cell phone. receive their first policy works and what the deductible is. a smartphone.* The right age depends on the child. Here are 12 mobile phone.* some points to consider: *Source: GfK study commissioned by AT&T involving • Has your child accepted responsibility for 1,000 parents and 500 children ages 8 to 17. privileges such as a pet or an expensive toy? If TEACHING KIDS HOW TO Behave ONLINE DID YOU EVER NOTICE THAT PEOPLE OFTEN What is a good digital citizen? Digital Code of Conduct are ruder and less civil online than they would be • Acting the same online as you do in person. • Don’t give out or post your personal in person? Teaching children that you should treat • Being respectful of others. information. people online the same as you would in person • Not copying something that isn’t yours. • Give everything the “grandma test” before out of is an important lesson. This concept is called digi • Staying safe from cybercriminals. texting or posting to a social network: Would you kids say their parents set tal citizenship. Digital citizenship means helping • Protecting personal information and want your grandmother to see it? rules for mobile phone use.* children understand that the standards of behav maintaining online privacy. • Treat others online as you would treat them ior when you are speaking with someone online in person. or through texting are the same as when you are As a parent, where do you start? • Stand up for others. Don’t tolerate bullying. talking to someone facetoface. • Understand how your child uses technology • Avoid plagiarism and copyright infringement. Teaching digital citizenship requires an ongoing to connect and socialize with his friends. • Keep your password a secret. conversation between parents and children. Par • Get comfortable with technology by using • Delete suspicious emails. Parental Controls ents must teach children to make smart choices the same tools as your child. • Ignore contact from strangers online. As a parent, you have power when it comes and behave responsibly while they are using • Set rules to follow, with consequences, when • Check with a parent or another trusted adult to mobile phone safety. Educating your child is digital technology. using digital tools. before downloading or clicking on anything. the most important thing you can do. You can It’s not unusual for children to use new appli • Let your child practice, and provide help also access tools from your service provider or cations and try new technologies before parents along the way. Keeping your child safe online, app store. For example, you can look for tools do. That’s one reason it’s so important for parents whether via a mobile device or that help to: to teach their children how to behave respon home computer: • Block calls and text messages. sibly online. If children understand the basics of kids think it’s • Set limits on use. • Prevent text messages or phone calls of responsible online behavior, they can apply OK for parents • Become familiar with the sites your child visits. during certain times of day. those standards no matter how the technology • Know your child’s online friends. • Restrict website browsing during certain 90% to set rules about changes. And whether or not you’re up on the • Know your child’s passwords. times of day. mobile phone use.* technology, you are still your child’s best teacher • Keep security software up to date. • Know where your kids are at any time. for behaving responsibly. • Reinforce that the same rules apply whether *Source: GfK study commissioned by AT&T involving your child is using a home computer or a mobile 1,000 parents and 500 children ages 8 to 17. device. HERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS: is lost or stolen. Make sure your child knows who Establishing • Make it clear to your child what the phone is will pay the insurance deductible or be responsible for. Maybe it’s just for safety and for calling par for a replacement. ents, in which case your child will only use the • Establish real consequences for violations of Ground Rules phone occasionally. home and school cell phone rules. Having a mo • If your child is older and allowed to use the bile phone is a privilege, not a right. Be sure your No matter what type of cell phone you choose for your child, it’s important to phone to socialize with friends, set limits on how child knows of the consequences if the rules are establish rules and consequences. much time your child can spend on the cell phone. broken. There are tools available to let you restrict the number of texts and set time restrictions for using Cell phone safety rules: the phone. • Do not give out personal information, includ • Let your child know when it’s OK to use ing date of birth, full name, address, school, or the phone. Maybe she can spend 30 minutes text phone number. ing friends after homework is completed or on • Do not share passwords with anyone other weekend mornings. than parents. • Check the rules for cell phone use at school. • Do not text photos that reveal your location Decide whether it’s worth it for your child to or other private information, such as the name of take the cell phone to school. For younger kids, your school. it might be better to leave the phone at home. • Do not lend your phone to someone you For older kids, make sure they know the school don’t know. rules and consequences. Using their phone to • Tell your parents about calls or texts you get cheat on a quiz, for example, can result in severe from someone you don’t know, as well as any punishment. thing related to your phone that makes you feel • Decide what you’ll do if your child’s phone uncomfortable. Mobile Safety I will stay safe: I will be a good digital citizen: I will not give out any personal information, I agree not to bully anyone online or on my Family Agreement including my birthday, last name, address, mobile phone by sending pictures or sharing school, photo, or phone number.