16/08/2017
Technology and Children. First thing to say is they will gain a great deal from access to technology and the games, communication and education it brings. Second as a parent you can't abdicate responsibility just because you don't understand it. The duty of care is the same as if you gave them access to a city. There are great bits and there are terrible bits you have to be in control and keep watch. Every setting has a purpose and every application has the potential to be terrible for your child or YOU and your firends security. Here are a few of my tips as a parent and Youth Worker. 1. Start with your own phone - get a smart-phone and work your way through the menus and settings. 2. Familiarise yourself with the application store - how to search, how to assess each application and look down the reviews - recognise that a 5* review with an app having 100 downloads or more can be fixed by the application developer or team - stick to apps having 100,000 users and rating 4.1 and above out of five. Do not allow applications to install from other sources (google how to change this on your phone). 3. Limit how much spending potential your child has. Just as you do with pocket money you can control the spend on devices and you need to do it in two ways - on the phone provider network using PAYG or Capped Contract like Tesco and on the software provider like Apple or Google Android or Microsoft etc... by setting up accounts with a gift card rather than linking to a bank, credit card or other source. They all allow this though they do not make it easy to see how - just choose skip or do it later options then add a gift card as needed to fund the paid for apps. 4. Educate your child, do not assume the school will do it or your partner, do it yourself and keep checking the following: they are aware of stranger danger like in parks, they adopt the same rules, but even more so because they can not see the person talking to them or on chat (beware chat in games!) they have to be sure before meeting up or doing what they say. They are aware they are spending money using the device so to treat messages about money as if it were money in their pocket or always get permission before clicking OK. They are aware the device does not make them safe. They must always tell their responsible adult face to face where they are going and how long they will be and always stay with friends to keep each other safe. Update the adult as plans change. Update the adult if anything/anyone scares them or is acting weird - always take the safest option. They are aware when the device is off or broken it is useless they will have to get home using their memory, skills, friends with them so always think what will I do if my phone fails? (especially if travelling with friends further away) They are aware of older children bullying and offering substances for free 'excitement' wanting their phone, their number and them to steal for them or worse. (these things are valid no matter where you live, village, town, city or island) 5. If in doubt ask, do some research and check with friends we all have smart phones and the 19 to 30 year olds know them better than most - they are only too willing to help advise and set up, but you must own the risk yourself as if you were giving your child a penknife for the first time... Oh and insist they get a good case and use it, preferable a screen protector too. The best are flip cases that cover the screen plus hold the device using a hard shell inside. My personal favourites are Tesco capped contract with a sms and calls data bundle on top sim only contract. Coupled with a sim-free device Android from Samsung like S7. Add your own tips and tricks here too I am sure I have missed some things...
