Mobile Device Safety for Your Kids

from JoeUser Forums

 

 

In the United States, pre teens and teens own and use a tremendous number of mobile devices.

 

Research also found that the kids surveyed average over half an hour talking on the phone and send more than 100 text messages, every day. That is more than 3,000 a month, and at least double the number of European kids. For some it is a truly addictive behavior like tweeting. Many plans offer unlimited texts.

Relatively few seventh through twelfth graders have any established rules around mobile phone use. That might be because of lack of guidance, but it might also be due to trust between the children and parents.

The Pew Internet report is worth reading. It covers a wide range of topics related to mobile usage by teens.

Because of this area of lack of guidance, Microsoft has prepared a brochure about mobile safety. I honestly believe it’s our duty as parents to look at it as well as The Pew Report, and talk with our young. Supper time is a really good time to do it also.

This brochure from Microsoft will help you better understand the features and risks of mobile phones for kids and explain how you can teach kids to use them smartly and safely. It’s never too late until something bad happens.

Download page: Microsoft

The advice and risks also apply to other mobile devices like Kindles, iPads, etc.

Source: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/risks-of-mobile-phones-and-devices-for-kids-brochure-from-microsoft

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones/Introduction.aspx?view=all

39,989 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Only 85% of 15-18-year-olds? Every kid at my high school has a cell phone...

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

But, the kids at your high school are not 100% of the total teens. ;)

The survey did not have those teens who owned phones in the past but not the present, and how many share phones... 

 

Note.... last date on the x-axis is Sept. '09. Now??? And this is 12-17, and not pre-12.

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 2
But, the kids at your high school are not 100% of the total teens.
End of DrJBHL's quote
True. In fact, my high school gets a lot of rich people's kids, so if anybody's going to have phones it would be them. But I still find that rate surprisingly low.

I don't use my phone for texting. I hardly use my phone at all. I don't want people to be able to contact me 24-7.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

This SMS hysteria....proves to me that people wants to be able to lie and stuff.

 

In a phonecall you don't got a lot of time to think. In an SMS you do so you can think out how to best put the words.

 

 

Have this funny story about a weird chick my friend called. He called her and she said that he should have texted her to ask if he's allowed to call! <--- WHAAAAT??!          Seem to be a womenthing, though strangely women are also the most chatty ones. Talking forever....

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

The irony is that those with the least to say - say the most (kids).

But then I am sure they think they have a lot to say. ;)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

They do... since they have no 'real world jobs' they super socialize, all the time.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I read an article in a New York newspaper today that says people don't care that their phones are spying on them as long as they get to use their gadgets. Will the kids care? Interesting question.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

 blank

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

^ Until they get their digital Gluteii handed to them by an identity thief.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Wish they'd come up with a way to have texting auto disable inside a moving car...lol.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 9
^ Until they get their digital Gluteii handed to them by an identity thief.
End of DrJBHL's quote

Kids do not have a lot to lose - so they are almost like animals in not thinking about the future.  When they do start thinking - it will be too late.  Having raised 4, I see it in my youngest (now 18), and have seen my oldest move on to be very concerned about such things now that she is a parent with children and a career of her own.

Some will be lucky and escape their folly unscathed.  Many will not.  ID thieves do not steal EVERY ID, so it is like Russian Roulette.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 10
Wish they'd come up with a way to have texting auto disable inside a moving car...lol.
End of RedneckDude's quote

1. Serious answer: Since iPhones and iPads have accelerometers (perhaps other brands too, just don't know), having them turn off wouldn't be that hard. Of course, talking and walking or moving might become problematic.

2. Non-serious/flippant (but true) answer: Text while driving and the car and driver will become disabled. Maybe the phone, too. Possibly permanently. 

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 12
2. Non-serious/flippant (but true) answer: Text while driving and the car and driver will become disabled. Maybe the phone, too. Possibly permanently.
End of DrJBHL's quote

That made my day Doc....laffin my ass off, but you're right, while funny, it is true also. I know people who text while driving and that is just plain stupid.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

blank

Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 12
Of course, talking and walking or moving might become problematic.
End of DrJBHL's quote
I never feel anything close to the acceleration everyday driving gives me when I'm outside a car. I think you could seriously set the threshold high enough that anything more than parking-lot driving would trigger a lockout, but not walking.

The bigger problem I see is that it would end up locking the phones of passengers as well.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

@ the_Monk-  a text message from The Boss?

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

blank

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Wow.  (Lucky to be alive would be a huge understatement.)

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 10
Wish they'd come up with a way to have texting auto disable inside a moving car...lol.
End of RedneckDude's quote

Right. Passengers should not be able to text. If you are on the subway or a bus, no texting there either.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

done

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

I am sorry you had a bad experience. That does not mean everyone else should have to be punished for someone else's stupidity.

I am old enough to have a wife and kids of my own.

As far as dumb, that is a personal attack and uncalled for.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OK, let's cool off. We're a Community and NO personal attacks are allowed, the_Monk. 

Please edit out those comments, the_Monk and wonderloss. 

 

It's for a good reason that drivers and people crossing streets and doing mass transportation jobs are not allowed to text. It puts others' life in danger.

A passenger doing it does not.

 

Let's all just relax and communicate as equals, without insults. 

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

done

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

[Mod hat on]

Your attack should be edited on your own, the_Monk. It is against the TOS for this site. You are being *asked* to edit BOTH comments promptly and not to continue this.

No justifications or explanations.  

Reply #25 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting the_Monk, reply 23
Pardon me if you're neither, but your post implies a lack of respect for a life.  If even one single human life is saved by being inconvenient to the rest of the world then that is a price well worth it and one that usually doesn't need to be explained to an adult and/or parent.
End of the_Monk's quote

Well just imagine how many lives we could save if we just eliminated driving all together, and everyone only biked or walked everywhere. It does not matter if it is inconvenient.

The fact of the matter is, there is no way to completely eliminate risk. There is always a balance of risk vs. cost, regardless of whether that cost is time, money, convenience, or some other factor. We make personal decisions every day, deciding what risk we are willing to accept, and what risk we are not willing to accept. To say that any prices is worth it to save one single life is unrealistic. Of course, it is also a much easier statement to make when someone else is being asked to pay the price.