Cell Phones

Smartphones have become a fixture in the hands of children and teens everywhere, and they are here to stay. In the U.S., 78% of teens own some kind of cell phone, and most of those are smartphones. This new era of always having a computer at your fingertips has ushered in multiple possibilities for communication and media consumption, but has also opened up teens and pre teens up to a host of ways they can put themselves at risk or get themselves into trouble. What should parents be worried about? In addition to youths spending too much time on their phones and normal teen drama, the main issues that arise from improper smartphone use fall into a few categories:

  • Predator risk
  • Negative consequences from bad behavior including
  • Cyberbullying
  • Sexting and revenge porn
  • Accessing inappropriate content
  • Inattention at school
  • Identity theft
  • Spam/Malware/Viruses

You probably agree that your children are using their phones far differently than you are using yours, but it is no easy task understanding what your children are up to when connected with their device. We have the answers that you need.

You can start with the basics, such as helping your child with passwords and setting age filters for app downloads, but by partnering with ThirdParent, you will have a clear picture of what unsafe or inappropriate actions your child is engaging in via smartphone, and a clear roadmap to guiding better behavior.

Other Cell Phone Resources

Infographic - Parent's Guide to Teens and Mobile

13 Cell Phone Safety Tips for Teens, Tweens And Their Parents

Rules For Your Child’s First Cell Phone

How to Put Parental Restrictions on Your Child's Phone

What to Look For on Your Child’s Phone

Are the Apps on Your Child’s Phone Age-appropriate?

Are the Apps on Your Child’s Phone Age-appropriate? Part II