This Christmas, many children will have received their first phone from Santa – but how can parents ensure they develop good online habits?
Founder of CyberSafeKids Alex Cooney told The Pat Kenny Show that phones aren’t the only way children can access the internet.
“About 11% of the eight to 12-year-olds that we survey year on year have a VR headset – and this is based on a sample size of about 5,000,” she said.
“So, that’s quite a considerable number already have these kinds of devices – and I do think it’s important that parents are really well-informed before they decide to buy, or even if they already have, that they’re really looking at the pros and cons of these devices.
“What I would say is that they can be very absorbing – I mean, that’s the whole point.”
Child wearing VR headset (VR goggles) using bluetooth controller - USA. B Christopher / Alamy. 27 August 2016Ms Cooney recommended that parents research all apps their children are interested in before allowing them to be downloaded.
“So, this is where we need to look at things like age ratings and really consider, ‘Is this appropriate form my child?’” she said.
“Sites like Common Sense Media or ours can really help guide your decision – but I do think that children are getting access far too young to a lot of these apps and games.
“Similarly, games have PEGI ratings to guide parents’ decisions.
“It’s worth checking out the age ratings, but it’s also worth checking out what the experts say about these particular sites.”
Pressure
According to Ms Cooney, there is a huge amount of pressure put on parents to give their children a smart device.
“Children are coming home and saying, ‘Well, you know, everybody else in my class has one, why am I not allowed?’” she said.
“That is proving very powerful for parents, they’re often, from what we’re seeing when we talk to parents, they’re often deciding that it is worse for their child to be let out in some way than it is for their child to get this access.”
Ms Cooney said that if parents were better informed on what their children were being exposed to, this nagging might prove less effective.
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