Cell Phones and Texting

How can I make it safer?

Setting things up…

  • Some cell phones have been designed with children and adolescents in mind. Currently in Canada, there are two cell phones available with limited features and parental control functions: Wherifone GPS Locator Phone and Firefly. Wherifone’s features include enhanced Global Positioning System (GPS) location technology, five pre-programmed buttons for one touch dialing, and push button location services. Firefly’s features include up to 22 pre-programmable outgoing numbers and call blocking which means only pre-programmed calls are accepted by the cell phone.
  • When signing the cell phone contract, consider not signing up for mobile browsing (Internet access), text messaging or email capabilities.
  • Consider a phone which does not have a built-in camera.
  • Consider turning off the Bluetooth option or setting it to non-discoverable. For cell phones with a Bluetooth option, consider only allowing content from an identified source and even then, only allowing pairing if within eye contact range with the source so your child knows who it is and what s/he is being paired with.
  • Monitor your adolescent's cell phone use.
  • Only give the phone to your adolescent when s/he actually needs it (i.e. trip to the mall).
  • Limit the amount of time your adolescent spends on her/his cell phone.
  • Learn how to block calls/messages from unwanted users on your adolescent's cell phone.
  • Limit your adolescent's downloading of ringtones, games, etc. to reputable sites. Make sure any games or ringtones your adolescent downloads are legal and age-appropriate.
  • If your adolescent’s phone has mobile browsing (allowing your child to access email on her cell phone), consider adding a program like Spam Arrest or Tagged Message Delivery Agent (TMDA) to your adolescent's email account. These programs only allow people on your adolescent’s "allow list" to send an email to her/him and force unknown email addresses to confirm themselves before sending email to her/his Inbox.
  • If your adolescent’s phone has mobile browsing (allowing your child to access email on her cell phone), ensure your adolescent always uses a nickname in chat rooms, IM, etc. that doesn't reflect his/her age, location, or interests.

Important discussions to have…

  • Teach your adolescent about the public nature of text messaging. What s/he texts to someone can be shared with anyone. To avoid potentially uncomfortable situations, stress the importance of being very careful about what s/he includes in a text message.
  • Tell your adolescent that s/he must have your permission before sharing her/his cell phone number.
  • Ensure your adolescent gets permission if meeting with someone they first met via text messaging or phone for the first time, and to bring a parent or trusted friend along.
  • Explain to your adolescent that it's illegal to threaten someone, and that s/he should tell a safe adult if threatened over the phone or through a text message.
  • Remind your adolescent that replying to a voice/text message will disclose her/his cell phone number to strangers via caller identification (ID).
  • Discourage your adolescent from answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.
  • Remind your adolescent to always remain aware of her/his surroundings.
  • Stress that your adolescent should never send pictures/videos of her/himself from her/his cell phone.
  • Reinforce the idea that your adolescent should never respond to any unwanted messages.
  • Teach your adolescent to trust her/his instincts — that if s/he feels a situation is potentially unsafe, it probably is.
  • Teach your adolescent that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age.
  • Suggest your adolescent review textED.ca, an innovative and interactive website designed to teach teens how to be safe, responsible and respectful users of texting technologies.

For more information visit http://www.mobility.protectchildren.ca

Ask an Expert!