Smartphones

Smartphones have a range of helpful features, like keeping you connected to friends and family, providing access to information and entertainment, and allowing you to keep in contact with your children and know their whereabouts.
 
While a smartphone can provide many benefits, careful monitoring and open communication is important, especially around the use of apps and access to online content that you may not want them to see.

Age guide

Parents are best placed to know when their child is ready for a smartphone and its associated risks — their level of maturity and critical reasoning skills may help determine this. Check out our guidance on what to consider before giving your child their first smartphone.

What to look out for

• Children may be unintentionally exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age or that you might not want them to see.
• Be aware of how much time your child spends on their smartphone. Encourage a healthy balance between smartphone use and other activities like spending time with family or going outdoors.
• Social networking or messaging apps downloaded on smartphones may allow content sharing, messaging/online chat, photo or video sharing, video calling and live streaming.
• Many apps and smartphones allow you to share your location at a point in time or in real-time.   
• Some apps downloaded on smartphones may include in-app purchases.
• If the wireless connection or information storage is inadequately secured, the data and recordings may be accessed by other people and shared without consent, and may allow outsiders to contact your child online without you knowing.

How to stay safe

• Help your child to set a strong passcode.
• Consider using parental controls to block or restrict specific apps, features and access to inappropriate content.
• Set boundaries around the times and areas in the house smartphones can be used.  
• Install software updates as they are released.
• Disable location services when they are not needed and be aware of which apps have features that track location.
• Secure your home network. . It’s important to change the default password that comes with your wi-fi modem or access point with a new password or passphrase to keep your devices secure.
• Don’t use ‘free’ or public wi-fi hotspots to send or check private or sensitive information.
• Only pair via Bluetooth with another device you are aware of and can control.
• Help make your child’s accounts private on social networking apps to avoid unwanted contact.
• Remain engaged in your child’s online lives and let them know you’ll be there to support them if something goes wrong online.