mobile internet – a catch-22 for parents
April 23, 2008 at 10:43 am 1 comment
With rising penetration of the Internet on mobile, and chat and social networking sites just about accessible from anywhere, parents are increasingly concerned about their children’s surfing habits. WSJ reports that according to the Yankee Group, 26% of teens surveyed indicated that Internet access was a must-have feature on the phone. In light of this, carriers have started offering parental controls for mobile phones. But are there more safety measures that handset makers and Internet services can take to reassure parents?
On one hand, the devices allow adults to maintain contact with their kids, helping to supervise their activities from afar. On the flip side, advanced features on some phones let kids check email, send instant messages, and visit mobile versions of Web sites. And that’s where teens can get into trouble.
As mobile Web browsing becomes more common, it will just be another aspect of cellphones that parents need to understand and be informed of, experts say. Monitoring your children’s cellphone comes with risks, especially when dealing with teenagers. Communication is essential. Minors should understand why their parents are monitoring them. If not, experts say parents risk alienating and losing the trust of their children.
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