Title: Children Getting Their First Mobile Phones at Younger Ages, Prompting Concerns Among Parents and Experts
Taking a closer look at the recent findings from the annual Back to School survey conducted by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), it appears that children are receiving their first mobile phones at increasingly younger ages. According to parents’ reports, the average age for primary school kids to acquire their first phone is 10.7 years, while secondary school children receive theirs at an average age of 13.5 years.
Interestingly, these findings have come to light at a time when UNESCO, the United Nations’ education, science, and culture agency, has voiced concerns about the impact of mobile devices on education. The agency suggests that only technology that supports learning should be permitted in schools. UNESCO points out that mobile phones can be distracting, pose risks to pupil privacy, and even contribute to cyberbullying.
The survey conducted by the ILCU found that parents of primary school children were more likely to support a ban on mobile phones in schools, with 88% favoring such restrictions. On the other hand, 77% of secondary school parents shared this sentiment. The study also revealed that 30% of parents expressed concerns about excessive phone usage and time spent on devices. Additionally, 23% worried about their children accessing inappropriate content, and 19% were concerned about the potential for cyberbullying.
A striking statistic from the survey is that over 60% of parents reported that their child currently owns a mobile phone. This high ownership rate further highlights the need for parents to ensure their children’s safety and responsible use of technology.
To address these concerns, online safety expert and CEO of CyberSafeKids, Alex Cooney, advises parents to delay providing smartphones to their children for as long as possible. Cooney emphasizes that smartphones are the most portable devices, granting easy access to the vast realms of the internet. Without proper parental controls and supervision, children can unwittingly expose themselves to potential risks online.
Parents need to be vigilant, as Cooney explains, stating, When you give a child a phone, you give them access to the world, but you’re also giving the world access to your child. She raises concerns about children spending late nights alone in their bedrooms, using their phones unsupervised. Cooney stresses the importance of protecting children from the darker sides of the online world until it becomes safer for them.
Interestingly, the top reasons cited by primary school parents for not granting their child a mobile phone include concerns about the child being too young (89%), safety worries (36%), and privacy concerns (22%). Conversely, secondary school parents voiced concerns about their child’s privacy (60%) and safety (51%), with excessive screen time worrying 38% of respondents. Encouragingly, 72% of school parents reported actively monitoring their child’s mobile phone usage and activities.
As children gain access to mobile phones at increasingly younger ages, it is crucial for parents to strike a balance between allowing their children to benefit from the advantages of connectivity and protecting them from the associated risks. Experts recommend delaying the provision of smartphones and implementing parental controls to ensure a safer online experience. With ongoing efforts to create a more secure online environment for children, it remains the shared responsibility of parents, educators, and policymakers to safeguard the younger generation as they navigate the digital world.
