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2023-09-02 13:25:04
Choosing When to Get a Child a Phone: One of the Hardest Decisions for Parents
The new research, into parents' views and concerns about getting their child's first phone, comes as Vodafone and the NSPCC launch their online resource to help parents make an informed decision.
New research from Vodafone reveals choosing when to give a child their first mobile phone is as hard as choosing a school. Three quarters of parents feel it is important for a child to have a phone when they start secondary school. However, over half worry about it. Meanwhile, children are more excited to get their first phone than their first pet or bicycle.
Vodafone announces its partnership with the NSPCC, launching a growing online platform of resources to help keep children safe online and provide top tips for buying children their first phone.
Discover the Astonishing Cost UK Rugby Fans Are Paying for EU Roaming Fees in FranceNew research reveals choosing when to give a child their first mobile phone is one of the hardest decisions a parent will make, with 36% saying it ranked equally as hard as choosing which school their children should go to (36%) and only topped by deciding when a child should go to the park or shop themselves (56%).
The study by Vodafone, to mark the announcement of their new partnership with the NSPCC and a new platform of resources, also found that while parents find the decision hard, overwhelmingly, they felt a phone was important to have when a child goes to secondary school (74%), to keep them safe when travelling to and from school (42%) and to know where they are when they’re out on their own (45%).
The data also suggests parents lack confidence in setting up safety features on key applications that children use, with many feeling in the dark with newer apps like BeReal (93%), Snapchat (85%) and TikTok (81%). Meanwhile, over half (53%) say the decision is difficult because they are worried about them seeing inappropriate content or being bullied online.
We Need Parental Controls to Protect Our Kids, But We Also Need to Talk
As Vodafone UK launches Digital Parenting Pro, a content controls hub for parents and carers, Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, reflects on how resources like this can protect kids from unsuitable content and help families have more informed conversations around online safety.
Exciting Progress: Vodafone Concludes OpenRAN Trials, Unleashing an Enormous Network Upgrade!To equip parents and carers with the information and tools they need to navigate buying children their first phone and keeping them safe online, Vodafone has announced its partnership with the NSPCC, the UK’s leading children’s charity. A key element of the partnership will be the ongoing development of a new online platform, designed to provide parents with practical resources for buying their child’s first phone, like setting parental controls as well as offering advice on both new and refurbished devices to help them get the best deal.
This complements the Digital Parenting resources and articles Vodafone has been providing families with for many years, including one of the UK’s largest directories of parental controls and safety settings, Digital Parenting Pro.
The NSPCC reports that, in 2022/23*, 10% of calls to its Helpline that focused on mobile phones or online platforms occurred in August, highlighting a spike in online safety concerns ahead of the new school term.
While parents may have their concerns about a first phone, children are excited. On average, they ask for a phone multiple times a week, which for most families begins when they turn nine. Nearly one-in-10 children even ask for a phone every day (9%). Parents added that children were even more excited about getting their first phone than their first pet or first bicycle.
Nexfibre's Game-Changing Partnership with Virgin Media O2 to Transform Fibre Rollout for 175K HomesOverall, the research found that almost one in 10 (9%) spend five months or more discussing when to buy their child their first phone. When they do decide to buy a phone, many parents and carers admit not knowing where to start, as one-in-five (21%) said they find it hard to know which mobile phone to pick for their children. Despite this, half of parents (48%) said they would consider the sustainable option and choose a refurbished phone to give to their child.
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Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer at Vodafone UK, said: “We know a child’s first phone is a big moment for families – exciting for children but bringing with it new concerns for parents and carers. Our research highlights that many mums, dads and carers don’t feel confident they know all they need to keep their children safe online or where to start with choosing their first phone.
“That’s why, for well over a decade, we’ve been committed to helping them navigate being online with their children. And now, working with the NSPCC, we’re supporting them with even more practical resources and tips to give them the tools and confidence they need when their children step into the online world with their first phone.”
Get 30GB Data for £10/month: VOXI's Game-Changing OfferKate Edwards, Associate Head of Child Safety Online at NSPCC, said: “At the NSPCC, we are doing everything within our power to ensure that children are safe when they enter the online world, including campaigning for a more robust online safety bill.
“We know a child’s first steps, first words and first day at school are all exciting moments for families but getting a first phone is one which can be tempered by fear.
“This is why our partnership with Vodafone is so important, together we can support parents to understand how to keep children safe.”
Your Child’s First Phone - What You Need to Know
Getting your child their first smartphone doesn’t have to be daunting with help from the NSPCC and Vodafone.
Vodafone's Extraordinary Year: Supporting Festivals and Special Events Across the UKVodafone & NSPCC 9 Safety Tips When Getting a Child Their First Mobile:
- Set it up as a ‘child’s phone’
- Speak to your mobile provider about restricting access to certain content and to avoid overspending on the bill.
- Turn on apps’ safety settings
- Turn on content filters, chat filters and privacy settings, as well as restrict in-app purchases, on all applications.
- Restrict WiFi
- Contact your internet service provider to add filters and online safety measures to your WiFi connection.
- Establish rules and boundaries
- Have open conversations about online safety and set limits for online usage.
- Monitor online activity
- Regularly check your child’s online activity and have access to their passwords.
- Teach responsible digital citizenship
- Teach your child about the importance of respectful and responsible online behavior.
If you would like to know other articles similar to The Surprising Dilemma Haunting Every Parent: When Should I Get My Child a Phone? updated this year 2024 you can visit the category Frequently asked questions about Vodafone.
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