More children carrying mobile phones in 2012
- Herald Sun
- February 02, 2012
MORE than one in four Australian children up to 11 years old have a mobile phone, and many have smartphones.
Research shows that figure rises to almost 80 per cent by the time they turn 13.
And with school about to start, one in seven children aged 11-17 expect to take a phone to class this year, a third with smartphones.
Parents are embracing the trend, with four out of five sending their child to school with some way of getting on to the internet, Telstra says.
Bruce Dixon, a technology and education adviser, warned smartphones could be used by kids to access whatever they wanted.
He said the trend would grow as the NBN increased internet accessibility.
The research also indicates 6 per cent of children will take a tablet computer to school in their backpack.
So far only four in 10 children use their mobile during the school day, many texting friends or logging into Facebook. But the phones, particularly smartphones, increased cyber risks, Telstra warned.
"It's important they know how to stay safe when using them," said Telstra internet safety officer Darren Kane.
Hilary Mulcahy gave her four children a phone each for their final year in primary school to stay in touch.
"The danger is that they get a little too open in their texts and Facebook writing," she said.
Her oldest, Declan, 17, said he has seen mates at school using smartphones to access Google in class.
He said most kids were aware of the dangers.
Sinead, 13, said having the phone made her feel safer, especially when travelling alone.
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