As we head into the Christmas season, parents across the country will be ticking off their shopping lists, while children will spend hours writing their wishlist. Without a doubt, many of these lists will include a request for a phone – leaving many parents faced with a big decision on whether it is the right time to buy a phone for their child.

At Three, we want to ensure that as parents, you have all of the right information to keep your child safe if you do decide to purchase a phone. That’s why we’ve created this essential guide to support you as your child embarks on this new stage. 

When is the right time to buy your kids their first phone?

It’s simple – there is no set time to buy your child their first phone and it all comes down to your own personal decision and what works best for your family and your child. As each child matures differently, their ability to understand how best to use a phone will vary. 

When children move to secondary school, this is often the time when having a phone makes practical sense, allowing them to stay in touch regarding changing schedules and routines, and enabling them to remain in contact with friends. However, owning a mobile phone is a big responsibility and one that must be approached with guidelines and an understanding of best practice for smartphone use. 

Agreement with your child 

It’s important before purchasing a phone for your child that you both discuss how your child will use this phone, including discussing some important guidelines.

While mobile phone ownership will enable your child to become more independent in the world, it is also important that they are conscious of how powerful a tool a phone can be. Involving your child in a discussion around their mobile phone use will foster greater participation on both sides.

Shane O’Brien, Head of Devices at Three Ireland, says “It’s important that a child or young adult understands the ground rules in place when owning a mobile phone. Ensure that there are clear agreements in place regarding their mobile phone use, whether that means no phones in the bedroom, putting it in a box at dinner time, or turned off after a certain time in the evening. You could even write up an agreement between the parent and child, so that everyone knows where they stand and are happy moving forward.”

Screentime 

We are all guilty of spending a lot of time on our phones, given the endless possibilities mobile devices can cater to. However, young adults should be aware of their screentime and fostering healthy habits when it comes to their device. iOS and Android include several built-in features and settings to help protect children, including Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions, which enable parents to manage their children's device usage, set time limits, block inappropriate content, and control which apps and features are accessible.

App safety controls

If you choose a smartphone, there are also several third-party parental control apps available on the App and Android Stores that offer additional features and protection. These include content filtering and web monitoring, app blocking and usage monitoring, location tracking and geofencing, social media monitoring and alerts, and call and text monitoring.

Some apps available on the App and Android Stores include Qustodio, Norton Family, Bark, FamiSafe and Mobicip. Parents should also install Google Family Link, SafeSearch and YouTube’s parental controls.

It's important to note that while these features and apps can be helpful in protecting children, they are not a substitute for open communication and supervision. It's crucial for parents to have ongoing conversations with their children about online safety and responsible device usage.

Social media 

Dependent on the model you purchase, phone ownership generally comes with social media access and it’s important that you ensure your child is educated and aware of online interactions.

Shane O’Brien, comments: “It is vital as a parent that you are aware of all the social media channels your child is on. At any one time, you are just six clicks away from unsuitable content, which is a real problem when safeguarding younger users. One safeguard I would recommend is that you follow your child on their social media platforms to remain informed of their activity. Each social media channel will also have their own parental controls and its always a good idea to set their accounts to private”. 

Adult Content Filter

At Three, we aim to ensure that young people can use their handsets freely without accessing inappropriate web content. We provide internet filters, at no cost, to limit access to websites that aren’t suitable for children and teenagers. These can be applied by contacting our messaging team or dialling 1913. We also offer useful advice to parents on www.three.ie .  While these filters will offer protection when your child is accessing the internet over Three’s mobile and broadband networks, if you have a different home broadband provider, or they use WiFi, make sure that you have filters applied from them too. 

Need a bit more guidance?

At Three, we’re always here to help. We have partnered with Telecommunications Industry Ireland on a ‘Parent’s Guide for the Responsible and Secure Use of Mobile Phones’, and this can be viewed here. Coimisiún na Meán has also published a helpful guide for parents, and this can be viewed here.

Finally, our agents are here to support you seven days a week, or if you would rather speak to someone in person, our retail experts are available Monday to Sunday at our various stores around the country.