What are The Risks of Giving my Child a Smartphone

You’ve probably wondered: “Is giving my child a smartphone OK?” Smartphones are essential tech gadgets that people constantly carry with them. 

The smartphone is a cell phone and computer in one tech device. We use smartphones for calling and messaging, but also we use integrated software and the Internet. From year to year, many children get their smartphones from an early age, even before starting school.

So, can parents and caregivers should decide when is the appropriate age to give their children smartphones and what are the risks for it.

Benefits of Giving Your Child a Smartphone

Smartphones improve our children’s communicative and socialization abilities. Children can engage with their peers and enhance their social status. Communication develops empathy, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills in our children’s personalities.

With the computer component incorporated in smartphones, children have easy access to the Internet to learn, search, explore, and get informed. 

Lastly, it’s a blessing for parents and caregivers to reach their children anytime and anywhere with smartphones. So, we can say that smartphones provide children’s safety too. 

The Risks of Giving Your Child a Smartphone

Parents must be aware of the risks that come with giving their children their own smartphones. So, we’ll discuss them in the following paragraphs.

Cyberbullying

Online bullying is an online danger that happens when one person (the bully) sends harmful, mean, aggressive, humiliating, and embarrassing messages to another person (the victim).

Studies show that about 46% of children have been bullied online at least once in their lives. Children who have experienced cyberbullying remain isolated from family and friends, are scared to go to school and feel upset, sad, and angry. 

So, monitor your children’s smartphones with parental control apps, and report inappropriate users that bother your children.

Internet Addiction

Internet addiction happens when children spend almost all of their time on, well, the Internet. And you’ve probably seen signs of Internet addiction in your children as well.

One of the signs of Internet addiction in children is a sleeping disorder. They stay awake all night scrolling on their smartphones and are angry when we take their phones away. 

With a lack of sleep, children will have less energy, be less focused, and display lower academic performance. Parents can try to manage children’s Internet addiction by setting clear rules and healthy tech habits.

Sexting

Sexting means sending or receiving explicit images, videos, and messages through text. 

According to the law, sexting which includes minors is illegal in most places. So, set strict rules and boundaries about how your child should use their smartphones and monitor their phone usage.

Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Children can get exposed to inappropriate content that contains violence, discrimination, nudity, and such while using their phones.

Research has shown that about 54% of all children younger than 13 have seen inappropriate content online.

So, make sure your children follow these next few strategies to protect themselves from exposure to inappropriate content:

• Avoid suspicious pop-ups;
• Don’t open sketchy sites;
• Report any inappropriate content;
• Set content filters on social media apps;

Social Media Pressure

Social media pressure is when a child manifests behavioral changes only to be accepted by peers on social media platforms. 

Social media pressure has created filtered and fake personalities with perfect hair, body, and shiny teeth.

And the worst thing is that, according to newer generations, it’s cool to hurt others or to post explicit photos online. 

Social media pressure affects children’s mental health and causes stress, fear, social anxiety, and depression. 

So, tell your children that they’re unique and perfect just the way they are and don’t need any approval from friends.

Physical and Health-Related Risks

Children’s excessive smartphone usage affects their physical and mental health. Constant tech usage causes behavioral changes and lowers children’s brain abilities. 

The blue light emitted from screens also inhibits children’s sleep quality. That’s why parents must interfere, set strict smartphone screen time limits, and monitor children’s tech usage.

Privacy and Security Risks

Hackers can easily access children’s smartphones and use their personal information against them. 

Privacy and security risks also include identity theft. Hackers can steal children’s identities and use them for fraud and forgery. So, here are some tips that can protect your child online:

• Never post personal information or pictures (this includes full name, phone, address, postal code, and such);
• Never share passwords and use complex passwords;
• Set privacy settings on apps and websites;
• Use parental controls to monitor your children’s safety;

Deciding When and How to Give Your Child a Smartphone

Giving your child a smartphone is not an easy decision to make. Children’s age is not always a priority when giving them a smartphone. Other factors are also present, such as:

• Children’s maturity and responsibility to keep their belongings (smartphones are expensive toys);
• The need and purpose for giving your child a smartphone (is it for communication and learning, or just to show off);
• The price and features of the smartphone your child likes;

Moreover, children must know how to use a smartphone properly. So, you should teach them to keep their information safe and never communicate with strangers online.

Also, teach your children to avoid clicking strange links or downloading suspicious files. And don’t forget to set limits and engage in other not-so-smartphone activities.

For example, I love to take walks around town with my children and enjoy the beautiful scenery. So, keep these rules in mind when introducing your children to a smartphone for the first time.

Conclusion

“Is giving my child a smartphone OK?” I hope that we answered that question. Maybe today is the day you are considering giving your child their own smartphone.

Please consider the risks mentioned above, and the factors that should influence your decision to give your child a smartphone. 

Be persistent about the rules linked to limited smartphone usage, social media behavior, and privacy protection.

Smartphones, as the name says, are themselves smart, but also demand smart children and smart parents (well, that was a lot of smarting).

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