TECHNOLOGY
online
safety
101
WARNING:
READ THIS BEFORE YOU
GIVE YOUR CHILD HIS OR
HER FIRST SMARTPHONE
WRITTEN BY BRETT MOLINA
W
hile it might not bring
parents as much joy
as a first step or first
word, the right time
to introduce kids to a
smartphone is an important moment.
Smartphones connect us with
friends, keep us updated on the world
around us, and let us capture and share
memories.
But if you’re a parent, handing one
over to your child can bring a sense of
dread. Who is she talking to? What is he
watching? Why can’t she stop texting?
There are ways to limit what your
children can access on their devices,
as well as track what they download.
Here are some tips.
DECIDE WHAT AGE IS
APPROPRIATE FOR A PHONE
Kids aren’t waiting as long to get
their first smartphones. According
to a 2016 study from research firm
Influence Central, the average age for a
child getting his or her first smartphone
is 10.3 years old, down from 12 in
2012.
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(201) FAMILY | SPRING 2018
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