Research commissioned by eir shows that children in Ireland are accessing their first mobile phones at the average age of nine, more than three years earlier than parents’ preferred age of between 12 and 13 years.
The study, which surveyed 522 parents across the country, also found that 42 per cent of parents provide their children with a phone earlier than they would like, largely due to safety concerns. Despite this, over a third of parents reported being unsure of how to access the built-in parental controls to help monitor and manage their children’s online activity.
In response to this, eir has launched its Smart Start programme, a free in-store initiative designed to help parents set-up parental controls, manage smartphone features and access alternative solutions, tailored to their family’s needs.
Following a successful four-week pilot in December, the programme is now rolling out across 10 eir stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Offaly include the eir store in The Bridge Shopping Centre, Tullamore
Starting today, parents and guardians can attend drop-in sessions which will take place from 10.30am -11.30am Monday - Saturday, at participating eir stores, where trained staff will be on hand to provide support and advice.
Eir consulted with CyberSafeKids, who endorsed the programme and provided expert input to train eir staff on best practices for helping parents safeguard their children’s smartphone use.
The research highlighted a discrepancy between parents’ confidence in managing their children’s smartphone use and the reality of children’s online behaviour.
While 71 per cent of parents believe their child can self-manage online activity and 80 per cent think their child would share negative experiences, findings from CyberSafeKids Left To Their Own Devices report, suggest a more complex reality.
According to their report 77 per cent of 8–12-year-olds say their parents cannot see what they are doing online, and 55 per cent did not tell a parent when they encountered harmful content.
Alex Cooney, chief executive of CyberSafeKids, highlighted the importance of such initiatives: “We know parents are aware of the risks that accompany smartphone use, but often lack the support they need to mitigate these effectively. We're delighted to have contributed to the development of the Smart Start programme, ensuring parents receive practical guidance at the point of purchase to help their children navigate the online world safely. Programmes such as this, which empower parents in the digital age are hugely welcome.”
Susan Brady, managing director of eir consumer and small business, commented on the initiative: “At eir, we understand the difficult balancing act parents face when it comes to giving their child a smartphone. As parents ourselves, we know how important it is to stay connected with our children, and our research reflects that same concern."
Smart Start is open to everyone — whether they are eir customers or with other mobile providers.
