Giovanna and Tom Fletcher decided it was time for their 11-year-old son to have a phone as he starts secondary school in September. However, they understood the importance of having discussions with each other and their son before making that decision.
Giovanna, aged 40, emphasized the need to manage and ensure the safety of their son’s access to the vast content available on smartphones. She expressed concerns about children encountering inappropriate content and the impact on mental health, highlighting the importance of empowering children through open conversations with parents.
Many families have recently gifted smartphones to their children for Christmas, leading them to navigate the challenges and benefits associated with these devices.
Over the upcoming year, a campaign called The Family Chat, in collaboration with Tesco Mobile, will promote discussions about online devices within families, regardless of their children’s ages.
The campaign will feature resources such as Tesco Mobile’s age-specific toolkits and support for parents and children to facilitate these conversations.
Giovanna, along with her husband, Tom, a frontman of the band McFly and a children’s author, have two younger sons who use tablets for messaging, gaming, and video calls with family members. They believe in the importance of communication, especially when parents are away for work.
When their eldest son transitioned to high school, they provided him with a restricted smartphone for communication purposes. They limited internet access and linked the device to Tom’s phone to regulate downloads. The couple values transparent communication with their children to explain the reasoning behind these measures.
Giovanna also recognizes the risk of excessive screen time, not only for children but for adults as well. They enforce rules such as no phones in the bedroom or at the dinner table and prioritize family time without digital distractions.
She emphasizes the gradual introduction of internet access to children, aligning with their readiness to handle the digital world.
Here are some tips to help children stay safe online:
1. Establish a child account: Setting up a child account on new devices allows easy management of parental controls, screen time, and app access.
2. Use the correct age: Ensure the child’s actual age is entered on their account for appropriate safety settings.
3. Activate safety filters: Turn on safety and search filters on search engines to block inappropriate content.
4. Utilize parental controls: Tesco Mobile’s Little Digital Helps Toolkit provides guidance on selecting suitable controls for different age groups.
5. Maintain open communication: Regularly discuss online activities and smartphone usage with children, especially during mealtimes.
Dr. Rebecca Whittington, Reach’s online safety editor, advises prioritizing the safe setup of a new phone to prevent potential online risks, considering that children may exhibit impulsive behavior when using new devices.