Parents are supportive of their children’s smartphone usage for the sake of safety and peace of mind, contingent upon the implementation of appropriate guidelines. Prohibitions on usage during school hours and limitations on web access are amongst the foremost rules for mobile phones to promote safe and positive phone habits. Nevertheless, the debate over texting at the dinner table continues to divide the nation!
A recent inquiry by the family locator app and safety membership service Life360 has unveiled the primary advantages perceived by UK parents of children 13 years and younger from owning a mobile device, alongside the policies they establish to cultivate safe and positive smartphone practices.
The study brings to light that in a time where families are increasingly tech-centric, numerous households are turning to technology as a means of comfort in contemporary parenting, particularly valuing the simplicity with which they can track their children’s whereabouts.
The findings indicate that nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents are of the view that smartphone possession can positively influence their children’s education and learning, with a notable 67% considering safety and security as the foremost rationale for providing their young ones with a mobile device, outstripping other motives such as convenience and social engagement. The general consensus among parents is for children to be equipped with a phone by the age of 13.
The primary rules for phone use set by parents include forbidding its use during school hours, restricting the total daily usage time, and disallowing its use at night. Other prevalent rules for phone usage include app usage restrictions, internet browsing limits, and restrictions on the areas within the household where the device may be used (for example, restricted to common areas like the living room, and not allowed in private spaces such as bedrooms).
Kirsty Ketley, a parenting consultant engaged by Life360 to formulate plans for parents on fostering healthy smartphone habits in children and teenagers, stated:
The survey also uncovers a divide in attitudes towards mobile phone usage at the dinner table, with half (50%) of the parents of smartphone-owning children enforcing restrictions on its use during meals.
The use of parental controls over internet content is also a prominent rule for children’s smartphone usage, with 61% of those surveyed monitoring the websites their children visit and 38% examining their text messages. When queried about the first type of app their child installed on their smartphone, gaming apps were most frequently mentioned (45%), followed by location-sharing apps (18%).
For parents whose children possess smartphones, a considerable majority find solace in actively utilising location-sharing features, with a consensus that it greatly increases their comfort level in allowing their children to partake in major activities such as commuting to and from school (86%) and visiting town centres or shopping malls with friends (86%) unaccompanied.
David Rice, International GM and CSO at Life360, commented:
“We commissioned this research to understand real-life concerns of UK parents and the steps they take to feel reassured about their children’s safety. The findings reinforce the fact that using location-sharing apps can provide families with a sense of security about each other’s safety and whereabouts whilst opening lines of communication, improving trust and allowing kids more freedom.
“It’s advantageous for young teenagers to have access to smartphones as this technology frequently becomes an essential aspect of daily family life spanning multiple generations and is crucial in exceptional emergency scenarios.”
