More and more children get their own mobile phones at an increasingly younger age. What challenges should parents be aware of when it comes to children and mobile phone use?

Why do children want mobile phones?
Mobile phones give the opportunity for social contact, and for many this is the main reason for wanting their own phone. Mobile phones offer many different possibilities and entertainment experiences: Games, camera and video functions, mp3 player and radio, storage of music and pictures and surfing online (WAP). Many young mobile users want phones with a lot of functions. Parents should consider what possibilities and limits they want their children to have before choosing phones and payment plans.

Kids and Media recommends
The possibility of keeping in touch with children wherever they are is the main reason why people let their children have mobile phones. Kids and Media generally recommends that children should be about ten years old before having their own phones, unless there are particularly good reasons why younger children should have one. It’s important that young children experience an every day life characterized by adequate predictability, without agreements to ”call me after school,” replacing clear arrangements regarding where to go and who to meet. As well as this, Kids and Media thinks it’s a good idea for children to have reached a certain maturity in age with regards to safe use, identifying commercial messages and the understanding of costs.

The mobile media offers more and more possibilities, and we recommend that parents keep a constant dialogue with their child whatever the age. Agree on limits and teach wise attitudes.

What challenges might children meet?
Mobile phones offer many positive experiences for children and young people, but it can also create challenges. The most common challenges are:

• Bullying: Children can send or receive negative messages. Serious bullying is punishable by law. Some operators offer parents the possibility of installing a ”bullying filter” on their children’s mobile phones. The filter enables you to block offending mobile numbers so that they won’t be able to send text and picture messages to your child. Contact customer services for more information.
• Overuse: Downloading of music, pictures, ringtones and other mobile content services. In some cases downloading leads to the child automatically being registered as a paying customer for these services, with weekly or monthly costs. Children aren’t always aware that ordering one single ringtone can activate member services. Some webpages accept mobiles as a way of payment when you buy services.
• Misuse of camera or video function: Children take pictures or videos of others and send them on or publish them on the Internet without asking permission.
• Concentration and rest: It can be tempting to spend time and give attention to mobile phones during school hours or after bedtime.
  

Kids and Media’s mobile advice for parents

• Choose a call plan with defined economical limits, for example a pay-as-you-go card or a set monthly rate. This will protect against overuse.
• Consider whether you want to block the membership against net surfing, content services like ringtones and screen savers as well as access to premium phone services. Get in touch with your operator’s customer service if you want to block access.
• Be aware when you choose a telephone for a young child:
  -Should it have a picture camera or video camera?
  -Should it have Internet access?
  -Should it have an mp3-player and radio?
• Some mobile operators offer a “bullying filter”. The filter lets you block offending mobile numbers so that they won’t be able to send text and picture messages to your child. Contact your operator’s customer services to find out if this is offered, and to activate the service.
• Speak with other parents about defining boundaries and when you think it’s okay for children to have their own mobile phones.
• Be a good role model for your children when it comes to using your mobile phone in a positive and sensible way.
• Invite your child to talk with you if they have negative experiences via mobile phone use.
  

Kids and Media’s suggestions for points to discuss between parents and children:

• How can the mobile phone be used in a positive way?
• Who should pay for the mobile phone use?
• What should you consider before downloading ringtones, pictures or making use of other services? It’s wise to be critical towards what to download, and read the agreement before ordering anything for your mobile.
• Who is it okay to give your phone number to? It’s a good idea to be critical to sharing personal information, for example in competitions. It might mean you’ll receive commercial messages afterwards.
• When should the mobile phone be switched on/off?
• What should you think about before taking pictures of others? You must always obtain permission if the picture is to be published online or sent to other persons than the ones in the picture.
• What rules apply for mobile use at your child’s school?
• What will the child do if they have negative experiences via their mobile? These experiences may include bullying, scary messages or adult content.