January 2010     As families across the country prepare for the upcoming school year, new research by Telstra has revealed parental concerns about safety (62 per cent) and the need to keep in touch (34 per cent) were the main reasons parents purchase mobile phones for their children.  

While a large number of parents find themselves adding mobile phones to their back to school shopping lists, many still hold off until the kids are older, and schools stress that they are not an essential item.  

"Kids are getting more independent - from taking public transport to school to travelling to afterschool sports lessons - and we are seeing more and more parents purchasing mobile phones for their school-age children. Interestingly, our research shows this is less about kids being able to ring their friends, but more so mum and dad can rest assured they can contact their children and vice versa should the need arise."

Despite these good intentions, Telstra's research shows one in five adults would not be confident teaching a child how to use their mobile device or manage their mobile phone bill.

"Today's generation of schoolkids live in a 21st century wired world, where technology - from mobile phones to broadband internet - is just as much a part of their daily lives as pens and pencils.  "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if parents don't know their text talk from their social media lingo - what's most important is teaching kids that owning a mobile phone is a privilege and with this comes responsibility."

According to Ms Young, while developments in mobile phone technology have meant kids now have access to a new world of communication and interaction, parents should be aware of and able to address any potential risks with their children.

"In the same way parents try protect their family's privacy online, it's important kids know not to share private and personal details or photos using their mobile phone. It's easy to forward SMS messages and photos but you never know where they might end up.

"We recommend parents contact their child's school to see if they have any guidelines on appropriate mobile phone use. It's also worthwhile making teachers aware that your child has a phone, so you can work together to ensure it is used responsibly within the school grounds," Ms Young said.

When it comes to mobile spend, Telstra's research indicates nine out of ten adults believe pre-paid is the most suitable payment option for children.  "Parents are right - pre-paid mobile phone plans can offer young people a way to manage their mobile phone usage as they know what they're paying up-front.

"Nevertheless, we advise parents to work with their kids to manage their monthly mobile spend. For example, setting a budget can help kids learn about how their phone works as they can see where their money is going and in turn, how this impacts on their savings," Ms Young said.

Tips for parents to ensure kids are mobile-confident:

• Check-in with your child's school. Speak with their teachers about whether there are any guidelines in place for students on using their mobile responsibly while in the school gate and identify ways you can work together to combat any issues which may arise.
• Get the low-down on costs. Many mobile phone companies offer different rates, and perhaps even free calls or text messages, depending on who is called and what day or time the calls are made. Pre-paid mobile phones are often the best way to go for young people - it means the minutes are paid for up-front and there is no bill to deal with at the end of the month.
• Set-up call barring. Telstra offers a range of options that can help minimise your child's mobile spend, including bars on premium text messages and international direct dial calls.
• Ensure their Bluetooth is not discoverable'. This means that it can't be found or discovered by other Bluetooth-enabled devices searching for another one. Keeping their phone undiscoverable is a good protection against hackers.
• Label their phone. This will help your child easily identify their mobile and potentially deter any would-be thieves.

Tips for kids to get mobile-confident:

• Privacy is your number one priority. Only give out your mobile number to people you know and trust.
• Bullying is never ok. If you get an insulting message (or just one you don't want) don't respond. Keep the message (and time and date it was sent) as evidence, and tell your parents, teacher or another adult.
• Think before you send. The person who you send information, pictures or videos to may not be the only one who will see them - so if you don't want them to go public, don't send them.
• Don't accept offers that sound too good to be true. Some text messages can cost a lot of money. These are known as premium text messages and are often used for competitions and voting services. Be sure you understand the total cost and check with your parents before accepting any offers.
• Use your phone's security features. For example, you can set a Personal Identification Number (PIN) number, which must be entered before anyone can use your phone.

 

From information provided by Telstra, 19 January 2010.

 

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