As their 11-year-old son prepared to start secondary school in September, Giovanna and Tom Fletcher made the decision to provide him with a phone. However, they understood the importance of communicating with each other and their son first.
Giovanna, aged 40, emphasized the significance of managing and ensuring the safety of children’s access to information online. She expressed concerns about inappropriate content exposure and mental health issues, highlighting the necessity for parents to engage in conversations with their children to empower them.
A considerable number of children received smartphones as Christmas gifts, leading families to navigate the challenges and benefits associated with this technology. Over the next year, a campaign called The Family Chat, in collaboration with Tesco Mobile, will promote discussions within families about online devices, regardless of their children’s development stage.
Giovanna expressed her enthusiasm for participating in the campaign, as it provides valuable knowledge that benefits their family. She highlighted Tesco Mobile’s resources and online hub, which simplify the process for parents.
Giovanna and her husband Tom, a frontman of McFly and a children’s author, have two younger sons aged seven and nine. These children use tablets for messaging family members, playing online games, and video calling. With both parents frequently away due to work commitments, the ability for their children to communicate with them is crucial.
At the onset of their eldest son’s high school journey, the Fletchers ensured he could contact them by providing him with a restricted smartphone. This device lacks internet access and requires Tom’s permission for any downloads, fostering an open dialogue with their son about the purpose of the restrictions.
Giovanna emphasized the importance of setting boundaries for device use, not only for children but also for adults. She emphasized the family’s practices of not allowing phones in bedrooms or at the dinner table, and limiting phone usage when the children are present.
To assist parents in safeguarding their children online, here are some tips:
1. Establish a child account for device setup to manage parental controls effectively.
2. Ensure the correct age is entered on the child’s account to activate appropriate safety settings.
3. Activate safety filters on search engines to block inappropriate content.
4. Utilize parental controls from the Little Digital Helps Toolkit, customized by age group.
5. Maintain ongoing conversations about online safety and smartphone usage, particularly during mealtimes.
Dr. Rebecca Whittington, Reach’s online safety editor, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safe setup of new devices for children to prevent potential online harms resulting from impulsive behavior.