Chatting with Kids About Being Online :Mobile Phones: Socializing and Communicating on the Go

Mobile Phones: Socializing and Communicating on the Go

Teach your kids to think about safety when using a cell phone.

What age is appropriate for a kid to have a mobile phone? That’s something for you and your family to decide. Consider your kid’s age, personality, and maturity, and your family’s circumstances. Is he responsible enough to follow rules you or his school sets for phone use?

Many online applications also are on mobile phones — including social networking, blog posting, content uploading, media sharing, and video editing. Teach your kids to think about safety when using a cell phone.

What can you do?

Use photo- and video-sharing by phone with care.

Most mobile phones now have cameras and video capability, making it easy for teens to capture and share every moment on the go. These tools can foster creativity and fun, yet they also present issues related to personal reputation and safety.

Encourage your teens to think about their privacy and that of others before they share photos and videos via cell phone. It’s easy to post photos and videos online without the knowledge — let alone the OK — of the photographer or the person in the shot. It could be embarrassing and even unsafe. It’s easier to be smart up front about what media they share than to do damage control later on.

Don’t stand for mobile bullying.

Mobile phones can be used to bully or harass others. Talk to your kids about treating others the same way they want to be treated. The manners and ethics you’ve taught them apply on phones.

Use good judgment with mobile social networking.

Many social networking sites have a feature that allows users to check their profiles and post comments from their phones, allowing access from anywhere. That means the filters you’ve installed on your home computer won’t limit what kids can do on a phone. If your teens are going mobile with their profiles or blogs, talk to them about using good sense when they’re social networking from their phones.

Get familiar with social mapping.

Many mobile phones now have GPS technology installed: kids with these phones can pinpoint where their friends are — and be pinpointed by their friends. Advise your kids to use these features only with friends they know in person and trust, and why not to broadcast their location to the world, 24-7. In addition, some carriers offer GPS services that let parents map their kid’s location.

Decide on the right options and features for your kid’s phone.

Both your mobile carrier and the phone itself should give you some choices for privacy settings and child safety controls. Most carriers allow parents to turn off features, like web access, texting, or downloading. Some cell phones are made especially for children. They’re designed to be easy to use, and have features like limited internet access, minute management, number privacy, and emergency buttons.

Be smart about smart phones.

Many phones include web access. If your children are going to use a phone and you’re concerned about what they might find on the net, turn off web access or turn on filtering.

Develop cell phone rules.

Talk to your kids about when and where it’s appropriate to use their cell phones. You also may want to establish rules for responsible use. Do you allow calls or texting at the dinner table? Do you have rules about cell phone use at night? Should they give you their cell phones while they’re doing homework, or when they’re supposed to be sleeping?

Set an example.

More mobile applications mean additional distractions. It’s illegal to drive while texting, surfing, or talking on the phone in many states, but it’s dangerous in every state. Set an example for your kids, and talk to them about the dangers of driving while distracted.