National Smart Phone Parenting Survey Results,
July 2011

SURVEY FINDS MANY PARENTS DON’T COVER RULES FOR CHILDREN’S CELL PHONE USE

While more than 95 percent of parents choose to get their child a wireless device for safety, emergencies and to ensure they can reach them at any time, one in five haven’t set up rules for kids’ wireless usage, according to a recent national survey by Verizon Wireless.

According to the study, the number one rule parents set for kids is that they must answer the phone when mom or dad calls. In addition, parents often require kids to maintain good grades in order to continue to use their wireless device. The study found that inappropriate text messages and the importance of not texting and driving ranked low on the list of discussion topics.

As for the age at which most parents provide children with their first cell phone, the research showed that the average is 11.6 years-old. Most of the parents surveyed reported that they provided their children with their first phone when they were between the ages of 13 – 15. Nearly 10 percent said they provided a phone for their children when they were between the ages of 7 and 9.

When asked how their children use their phones, the study found that parents think their children use the devices primarily for calls and texts (51.4 percent calls and 41.9 percent texts), compared to a smaller group of parents (less than 7 percent) that think their children use their devices for online apps, social media, or taking photos and videos.

When looking for information about wireless tips and safety guidelines, one in 10 parents surveyed said that they don’t know where to get help. However, 47 percent of parents look to online sources for tips and guidelines, the study noted. Verizon Wireless offers several tools and suggestions to manage and create the digital experience that fits families best such as Usage Controls, Family Locator, and Content Filters.

To learn more about these safeguard services, visit www.verizonwireless.com/safeguards. For further information on Verizon Wireless’ parental controls, go to http://parentalcontrolcenter.com or view the video.