Mumsnet users share what they think about children using mobile devices with cyber security experts ESET

[JustineBMumsnet]

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Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have become a part of everyday life, and children are increasingly using them. With this in mind, ESET Mobile Security would like to hear what your thoughts are on children using mobile devices and becoming vulnerable to cyber threats.

Here’s what ESET has to say: “With ever more of us living a life online, every member of the family can be left vulnerable through their phones or tablets and smartphone users with no antivirus software are opening themselves up to some serious threats. Whether it is virus software, dodgy apps or phishing emails, our devices are increasingly susceptible and it is becoming more and more crucial to consider how you can best protect your phones and tablets.”

When do you think children should have access to mobile tech like smartphones and tablets? Do your children have their own devices, or do they use yours? If your children are using smartphones or tablets what do they use them for? Have you spoken to your children about internet security measures? Have you downloaded antivirus software on to your devices?

All who post on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list) and one year’s free Premium subscription to ESET’s Mobile Security App.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I am not to happy about it, maybe change my mind when they are older.

My kids each got a mobile when they started secondary school as they come home on school transport and I needed to be able to contact them.

The technology is not the issue - the issue is how they use it and so long as they have been taught what is and is not appropriate there is no problem.

I believe that children need to be able to navigate the world of technology, but with supervision. And I think that it is important that parents understand and become involved in making rules with regard to use in both in the home and away from home.

Personally, I don't think children should have their own mobile phone until they're in their teens. But, it all depends on the parents. Personally, my DD will not have a mobile until she's 13+. I like her to play in the garden, help cook and bake and participate in educational activities rather than sit staring at a mobile all day.

It is up to parents to decide what devices and when are appropriate. Our DCs did not get a mobile phone until they were at secondary school. we educated them regarding security and internet safety etc and they got all their dos and donts.

DD (nearly 17) has had a smartphone since she was 12 and a tablet since 14. She's incredibly sensible and I'm generally not concerned about her online activity so basically leave her to it. I do change the WiFi password as consequence for undesirable behaviour such as being an arse about getting up in the morning etc. This is an incredibly effective tactic!

DS (8) has additional needs (ASD/ADHD) and so his access to tech is really tightly monitored by me. He spends 1 hour a day on Minecraft (with the opportunity to earn extra time by doing various basic tasks like tidying his own Lego) but I've got full access to his account and have turned off the chat facility. He is obsessed with crappy YouTube videos about Minecraft but is limited to one episode per day, all of which he has to choose from a playlist of vetted-by-me content.

My main concern for DS is how susceptible he is to advertising and in app purchases. I've got everything set so he can't make them but he nags and nags about wanting minecoins etc and it's infuriating.

I don't have a problem with children having tablets. They are just tools. They obviously need to be limited and controlled though. The problem is that many parents don't put appropriate limits and controls on devices. Apple seems to really allow you to lock down devices which I like.

When do you think children should have access to mobile tech like smartphones and tablets? Do your children have their own devices, or do they use yours? If your children are using smartphones or tablets what do they use them for? Have you spoken to your children about internet security measures? Have you downloaded antivirus software on to your devices?

My youngest DC age 5 has a tablet and the others 9, 12, 14 and 17 have phones, tablets, consoles etc. I suppose my feelings are that they are a necessary evil. The are helpful for me from a safety and convenience perspective and they make learning so much more accessible, but all my DC with the exception of the youngest one have experienced online bullying. The oldest two have mental health issues which I attribute mainly to social media. We, alongside school discuss internet safety with them and I do what I can with parental controls, but ultimately, I feel like they are still very vulnerable.

Limiting phone time is proving to be a real problem with our teens because we made the mistake of getting them unlimited contracts from the outset. It'll be hard to change that now.

I’m not there yet but it really terrifies me. I would get a phone for walking to/from school and would like a text to say they’ve arrived safely but I would just want a simple phone with no internet/camera etc.

It makes me really uneasy

Effective ip blacklists on mobile devices, particularly overriding mobile providers settings. A clean VPN service with blocking of known malicious sites

Proper parsing of text streams intercepted at the low level for all apps.

by that I mean any stream of text that comes into a device is intercepted, scanned and parsed for malicious phrases.

A proper service that holds bullying phrases and can be used as a black list. so if a kid reads something inaproptiate, it's flagged and sent to a responsible adult.

if the above can be done for binary streams audio video all the better

this would be useful for app like sketch which isn't messaging but allows comments and dm's

also a family based password manager so that parents can unlock passwords on the kids devices.
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Technology is the way of life in this day and age, if you stop your child from using technology You are just delaying the inevitable. You could also look at it from the point of view of safety with freedom as well, back in the day you would have kids go out and you wouldn't be able to contact them, now you can call them you remind them when dinner is, this is a good thing.

Just remember that there's balance for everything, just because you give a phone to your child doesn't mean you can't also take them outside and enjoy interaction, if you're child plays up then take the phone away as punishment....a bit of discipline goes a long way.

Parents need to set an example on appropriate usage - no use moaning kids addicted to these devices if parents on on them all the time.
I agree children should be gradually introduced to smart phones and devices and taught safe usage, but parents have to keep up supervision- we don’t all do as we are told!

Children nowadays will be expected to have a high level of tech proficiency. Tablets and smart phones are basically portable computers now and can be hugely beneficial.

My son (11) has always struggled with his times tables but with Apps like TT Rockstars which school use he is now able to multiply anything at rapid speed which helps with all aspects of maths. He was on it at 7am yesterday with 2 other boys in his class trying to beat the other class as they are in a battle. I can never imagine a time when i was younger that me and my friends were up early on a saturday to voluntarily practise maths.

My daughter (13) has friends who have moved abroad with their parents jobs and she can keep in contact with them so easily through whattsap. Living in a rural area, communication is important to her.

They both use their devices to research information, read books, and they have instant access to knowledge we could not have dreamed of at their age.

Obviously there are downsides. Security concerns, social media and all the problems that can bring, excessive use and dependence on screens. But it is the parents responsibility to monitor and educate their children in safe and appropriate use of the internet.

As for ages? I think that should be entirely at the parents discretion. I know some 5 years olds that would be more responsible with physically looking after the device than some 14 year olds. The level of parental supervision/involvement should be child appropriate not a case of age appropriate. This leads some parents to think at 13 or so children are old enough to not need that monitoring when in fact its far more dangerous for young teens on the Internet than it is a 3 year old watching peppa pig videos.

i think a basic mobile is great for keeping in contact with my child whilst on way to and from school especially with me working full time but social media is just scary, mine use it for watching films in the car etc

As a teacher, I think there should be much stricter controls on electronic devices, from both parents and schools. Younger children may have limited access to them, under parental supervision, but not for long. Mobiles should only be given to older students to keep them safe. Basic mobiles, not smart phones. At school, these devices cause all sorts of problems. We see children who go to sleep late when using them, experience bullying, are victims of crime etc. I would not let my child have a phone. Only when they get to the age where they have to travel alone. Even then, not a smart phone, as you do not know what they will access. I speak to my pupils about this all the time. I haven't downloaded any antivirus software, but am open to it. School would be a much better place for children and teachers, if mobile phones and electronic devices were banned during school hours.

I think it can be a good source of entertainment for them, but you need to use special restrictions. My little ones love Youtube, but there are all sorts of inappropriate videos on there, so I only let them use the Youtube Kids app.

good only for communication not for games and social media as it gets too addictive!

Mobile phones are dangerous to everyone, especially children and this is hidden.

I think some limited, supervised exposure to tablets after 3 is fine- although I don't like to see them used as an 'opt out' for parenting.

I don't think kids need their own phone until they've reached an age where they might be unsupervised- so for travel to secondary school etc - and I agree with parents monitoring phones (messages and SM accounts etc.) for younger teens for safety reasons.

They have their place and can enhance learning. However, as adults we need to be mindful of the potentially negative effect and take steps to reduce this.

Technology has advanced so much over the years I feel that it is important that children are exposed to mobile devices so tbey build a level of knowledge and in the future they will have the abilty to use them. However I think children should be supervised and i would rather them use apps like sky kids and amazon kids than youtube or searches on the internet

My child has had a tablet f tom a young age - the CBeebies app is great as are other educational games.I do limit the amount of time he spend on them but I find them great on long journeys

I think there's a time and a place...I really dislike seeing kids on tablets when out for family meals in restaurants, particularly when the extended family are there too....but i'm sure this is yet another thing I will end up doing when my little girl is older - anything to make life easier hey?! #mustnotjudge