We’ve talked about some of the top mobile and online safety concerns of parents and explored how to talk with kids about mobile and online safety. In this post, we’ll take a look at some interesting stats and information concerning kids and the use of mobile phones. You may find yourself surprised by some of the information!

AT&T conducted a survey of 1,000 parents and 500 children between the ages of 8–17. Through that survey, they learned about mobile phone use for children and how parents and children communicate regarding mobile safety. Here are a few of the findings I found interesting:

• 31% of children ages 8-11 already have a cell phone
• The average age kids receive their first mobile phone is 12
• 90% of kids think it’s OK for parents to set rules on mobile phone use
• 38% of kids say their parents have not talked to them about mobile safety
• 53% of kids report that they have ridden with someone who was texting and driving

I was surprised to learn that so many children already have a cell phone at such young ages. But, at the same time, with safety being a top concern for parents (myself included), I can understand why parents of young children would provide them with a phone. Times are not how they used to be and I would rather provide my children with a way to get in touch with me in case of emergency than trust someone will be around to help them at the moment. I imagine many parents feel the same way.

Of course, even more surprising was that so many kids have been in a car where the driver was texting and driving. I admit that I’ve been guilty of this myself, but I normally do so at a red light, not while actively driving. However, I think I’m going to avoid even that from now on because I need to set a better example for my kids.

Were you surprised by any of the survey result findings?

Disclosure: This post is the final part of a compensated series for the AT&T Mobile Safety program. Check out top mobile and online safety concerns of parents and talking about mobile and online safety with kids for more and the AT&T Mobile Safety page too!

Photo source: Angelo DeSantis/Flickr

After sharing some of the top mobile and online safety concerns of parents, this post will explore how to talk with kids about online safety. When is too early? How much information should we give them? What type of conversations should we be having?

I think it all depends on the age of your child(ren). Your teen may need a lot more information than your preschooler, and the devices they use will be different. For example, my six-year-old daughter doesn’t yet use texting or the Internet. She does however use apps, on our mobile phones and the iPad. For her, it’s much more important that we talk about proper use of apps and avoiding advertising or purchases, rather than discussing texting while driving. That won’t make much sense to her since it’s not relevant for the phase she’s in.

Depending on your child’s age, you may consider discussing any (or all) of these topics:

• Advertising: What is advertising? How can you tell if it’s an advertisement? What should you do (or not do) if you see an advertisement?
• Apps: What type of apps are allowed for your family? Who can purchase apps? What is the spending limit for app purchases?
• Screen time: How much time is allowed for using mobile devices?
• Texting: How much texting will be allowed? What type of messages are safe and unsafe? Driving safety (avoiding texting and driving).
• Safe browsing: Deciphering between legit and good resources vs opinion-based sites. Avoiding scams. What is a predator? What type of information do we never provide online?
• Cyber bullying: Recognizing this as a legit form of bullying. How to avoid feeding online trolls. Ensuring we are not partaking in bullying techniques ourselves.
• Netiquette: Basic net etiquette and manners. What are emoticons? How can they be used to convey emotion online? What are online acronyms and what do they stand for?

Of course, this is just a sample of topics you can discuss when it comes to talking mobile and online safety with your children. There are many more I have failed to list. Inform yourself, ask questions, and be open with your kids. Let them know that if something doesn’t ‘feel’ right, they should ask you about it. Though there are aspects of letting your kids online that may seem scary, it doesn’t have to be. Check out the AT&T Mobile Safety page for more info too!

What other topics would you discuss with your children?

I’ll have one more post to share with you in the coming days regarding the AT&T Mobile Safety School events I hosted. Look for it soon!

Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign for the AT&T Mobile Safety program.

Photo source: Anthony Kelly/Flickr

This past summer, I partnered with AT&T and hosted three local events to facilitate a discussion with parents on online and mobile safety. Through AT&T’s Mobile Safety program, I was able to get together with local parents in our community and gain insight into what concerns them about Internet and mobile safety with their children. I also relayed information provided by AT&T including tips for discussing online safety with your children, navigating mobile apps with even the youngest children, and of course, mobile phones for children.

What I like the most about AT&T’s method is that it is less about restricting online and mobile use for children and more about empowering them with proper information. If you know my husband and I, you know that we don’t shy away from technology in our household and actually embrace it. With proper limits on use and showing them appropriate techniques, we feel technology is not something to fear with our children. Because of that, I appreciated the overall message from AT&T to engage children in conversations about online and mobile safety instead of simply setting restrictions.

The attendees at each of the three Safety School events I hosted had children of varying ages. Many, though, were parents of children eight and under, just like me, so it was easy to relate to their concerns. After speaking with parents at the events, here are five of their top concerns regarding mobile and online safety:

• How can I be sure my child is protected from online and mobile app advertising?
• What are some of the best apps for toddlers and preschoolers?
• How do you find appropriate apps for young children?
• I don’t necessarily want my child to have a phone at such a young age, but for safety reasons, I feel like sending him/her to school with a phone is a good idea so he/she can get in touch with me after school.
• What IS a good age for my child to get his/her first phone?

Do you share some of these concerns? How have you dealt with them?

I’ll be sharing two additional posts with you in the coming days with more information from the AT&T Mobile Safety School events I hosted. Look for them soon!

Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign for the AT&T Mobile Safety program.

Photo source: henriksent/Flickr