Mobile Device Safety for Kids

Do your kids use mobile phones, iPods, or tablet computers? If so, you’ll need to make sure they know how to use these devices safely. In many ways, staying safe on a mobile device is a lot like staying safe on a computer: Don’t download suspicious apps or email attachments, avoid giving out too much personal information, etc. However, there are a few dangers that are more unique to mobile devices, so you should discuss these with your kids.

Mobile devices are designed to be convenient, portable, and easy to use. Unfortunately, this also means it’s easier for kids to do things that they shouldn’t. One example of this is texting while driving. Texting is very distracting for any driver, and it has become a major cause of traffic accidents and even deaths. Since many teens send hundreds of texts every day, they may be tempted to respond immediately to every text that they receive.

So which guidelines should you give your teens for texting while driving? There’s really just one simple rule they need to use: Don’t text while driving! Whether your teen wants to send a text, post something on Facebook, or check their email, they should wait until the vehicle is stopped before using the device.

Another danger is sexting, which is taking nude or sexual photos with a mobile phone and sending them to someone else. Many teens and preteens think that sexting is no big deal, and as a result it has become very common. However, teens who engage in sexting can be prosecuted for distributing child pornography, and they can even go to prison if they are convicted. It’s important to make sure your kids understand that sexting is not okay.

Many mobile apps use a feature called geolocation, which allows you to share your location with other people. This can be a fun and useful feature, and depending on how it’s used it may not be too risky. But if you’re uncomfortable having your child’s location shared, you can turn off location-based services for some or all of the apps on the device.

Need help convincing your kids to use their mobile devices safely? You can find many more tips in our Internet Safety for Kids tutorial.