As a parent, you have had endless amounts of control over your child’s life for so long that it can quickly become overwhelming when so much is out of your hands. When your teen first starts using a mobile phone it can feel like a huge novelty to them, so how can you maintain some level of control and consistency so that they’re as safe as possible? Making sure that the next generation are using their mobile phone safely and not getting into bad habits is very important to you, as you are very aware of the dangers that go hand in hand with teens and technology. With this in mind, here are a handful of ideas to help you maintain an open and honest conversation with the adolescents in your home so that they are always using their mobile phone in a safe and healthy way.
[Photo by cottonbro studio]
Teach Them How to Keep Their Device Protected
Teenagers aren’t always aware of the imminent threats that could be posed to them as a mobile phone user. Young people often believe that these types of things could never happen to them, but it’s important for you to have these conversations with your youngster so that they know how to keep their device protected at all times. They need to be informed about how to know if your phone is hacked and all the tell tale signs to look out for. When a mobile phone is compromised by a hacker they may notice unexplained data usage or battery drain. They should always come to you with more information if they suspect their phone has been transmitting information without their knowledge. All in all, making them aware that everything on their phone could be susceptible to data breaches and hackers, will help them to understand how to use it carefully and be mindful of the warning signs.
Talk to Them About Online Dangers
As well as being aware of potential technological takeovers, it’s also important to talk to them about the dangers of people online. Stranger danger is often talked about in school, but it isn’t always the main topic of conversation. More and more children are becoming victims of online abuse, grooming and control via their mobile phone, so it’s important to have age appropriate conversations with your children about these dangers.
Spot Warning Signs Early On
If you suspect your teenager is using their phone in an unhealthy way, then you have the right to withhold it from them and find out more information. If they are becoming withdrawn, or telling lies about what they’re doing on their mobile phone you need to lay all of your cards out on the table and make sure they speak out about anything concerning. This will help you to nip the problem in the bud so that you can have peace of mind and keep them safe.
Make Phone-Free Time a Thing
Let’s face it, everyone in society could benefit from reducing their screen time a little more, so why not instill an ongoing rule at home? If you’re going to enforce phone-free time, you also need to lead by example and ensure you’re not constantly on your phone all the time too. During meal times you should all be putting your devices down and having authentic conversations about your day. This is a healthy routine for everyone to get used to and it promotes positive behaviors regarding family time and mobile phone usage.
Give Them Space and Trust Them
If you trust your teenager enough to give them a mobile phone, then you need to allow them some space and trust them to a certain extent too. Try not to go snooping or pry too much into their personal information. If you set the boundaries early on, your teen should feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns they have regarding their mobile phone.
Some of the ideas mentioned above may never have even crossed your mind before, so hopefully this brings a level of awareness to you. Making continual improvements with your communication between you and your teenager will help you to listen and understand their needs. When they go quiet, you can quickly pick up on these cues and find a plan that will help them to open up and talk about anything they’re going through. Having a teenager with a mobile phone is a huge learning curve for many parents, so hopefully you can find peace of mind with some of the useful methods here.
