Conscious mobile using

Children and mobile phones

Children start using mobile phones at a very early age, there are many primary school pupils who carry mobile phones. From a content perspective these devices are identical with computers and it is worth discussing certain topics with our children.

These days the majority of mobile phones are smart phones so they are valuable items (not mentioning the data stored on the device). It is highly recommended to use a PIN code (to protect the SIM card) and set a security code (to protect the device). The codes must be hard to find out (no simple number series, date of birth, etc.). If, in spite of the precautions, the phone is stolen it has to be reported to the police and the service provider must be contacted to block the device.  It is not a good idea to lend the phone to anyone. Even if it is intended to be a joke, the device can be used for harassment. If the harassed person makes a police report the owner of the telephone can be prosecuted.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allows phones to communicate with other devices. Communication involves data transmission therefore it is imperative that children must always turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to protect their data - photos, messages, address list. Unfortunately there are mobile phone viruses that access data with the use of these two technologies. In order to avoid the disclosure of our child's actual location with each and every posts sent to social media websites it is worth switching off the location monitoring feature in the device. By inactivating cloud services - store of data in various servers - one may avoid that data are saved in the cloud and can be irrevocably deleted any time.

Children's data include their photos. Tell them that they can only be photographed / their pictures can only be published with their consent. (it is naturally true the other way round too: they always have to ask the other person(s)'s consent before taking pictures.)

NIt is not closely related to safe use of telephones, but it is worth talking about some basic rules, like when they are supposed to / must mute or switch off their phones. They are supposed to mute it in a doctor's waiting room, theatre, movie, at any other performance, in museums, libraries and church. Sometimes it is better to leave the phone at home switched off - or even locked. It must be switched off at places where it may interfere with other devices: in hospitals, on airplanes and naturally at school.

Children sometimes use their parents' smart phone to browse the internet or play games. It is advised to log off from our webshop accounts to avoid that our children buy items and spend money.

There are many children who are given a mobile phone to be available in case of emergency or to ensure that they can call their parents any time.  In such cases the below application may be helpful: UNICEF HELPAPP . It is recommended to download and install the above application.

Telekom's professional partner organization - Mobilsuli - prepared a survey to help parents and children: Mobilsuli survey(PDF, 99,6 kB) . While filling in the form various problems, issues may arise that no one thought of previously. It is worth reading and answering the questions together!

 

How technology can help?

Safe use of content requires to make the device - TV, computer, smart phone - safe as well. Telekom uses its best efforts to help parents in this respect. Our services include various filtering programs.

Safe mobile phone use can be enhanced by Telekom's free Child Lock service. The service blocks adult content available in Origo portal via mobile phones, premium fee SMS, MMS or voice services as well as adult channels in the Mobile TV service. If you need more protection you may download this free application t o protect your children from internet harassers, inappropriate content, unsafe exchange of messages and unwanted mobile applications.