The Evolving Discourse on Adolescent Smartphone Use
The conversation surrounding smartphone utilization among adolescents is undergoing a notable transformation.
In recent years, there has been an increasing advocacy for limiting screen exposure for tweens and teens. Some school districts have enacted bans on cellphones within classrooms across several provinces in 2024.
Moreover, the dialogue advocating for a prohibition of social media for minors under the age of sixteen, akin to recent initiatives in Australia, is gaining traction in Canada.
Nonetheless, many parents find it challenging to refrain from providing their child with a first smartphone for an extended period.
When that moment arrives, experts underscore the responsibility of parents to establish constructive guidelines for the device. This is especially important given that modern smartphones are often engineered to facilitate, and at times obscure, easy expenditure.
“Introducing your child to their inaugural cellphone can serve as an invaluable pedagogical moment — a chance to seamlessly integrate financial lessons into your daily interactions,” remarked Robin Taub, author of “The Wisest Investment: Teaching Your Kids to be Responsible, Independent and Money-Smart for Life.”
Taub suggests that the initial step involves a candid discussion regarding the various expenditures linked to smartphone ownership, clearly delineating responsibilities for these costs.
- The smartphone itself
- Monthly phone plan fees
- A protective case
- Potential insurance for the device
For younger adolescents, around ages 13 to 14, she recommends imparting knowledge about data overages, the advantages of connecting to Wi-Fi networks, and the necessity of deactivating data roaming while traveling to circumvent unexpected charges.
As teenagers mature, parents might progressively delegate the responsibility of the phone bill to them.
However, numerous less apparent expenditures exist, such as in-app purchases or subscription trials that may surreptitiously appear on credit card statements.
Rebecca Snow recounted her children’s engagement with the widely popular online universe-building game, Roblox, which frequently prompts in-app purchases for new avatars or attire for their characters.
“They would often ask, ‘Can we get Robux?’” said Snow, co-founder of Unplugged Canada, an organization advocating for smartphone-free childhood experiences.
“They didn’t comprehend that I was actually spending money on Robux, purchasing those digital tokens for cosmetic enhancements for their avatars.”
Kalee Boisvert, a certified financial planner, understands the relentless appeals for digital game purchases.
When Boisvert’s 11-year-old daughter, who possesses a smartphone lacking a cellphone plan, makes requests for in-app expenditures, it catalyzes an important dialogue.
“It’s fundamentally a discussion about priorities and evaluating what truly matters,” she noted.
For instance, Boisvert reminded her daughter of an imminent trip to Disneyland, suggesting it would be wiser to save for items she might want to acquire there.
Snow expressed the necessity for financial literacy prior to adolescents receiving their first smartphones.
She shared that her 12-year-old son, who has yet to obtain a smartphone, utilizes a pocket money application called Mydoh on either a computer or Snow’s phone to grasp the principles of saving and earning through household chores.
“I can state, ‘If you take your lunchbox out of your bag each day, click this button on Mydoh, and you’ll earn $2 weekly for that,’” Snow explained.
She believes these sound online financial practices will be advantageous when her son eventually acquires his first smartphone.
Margot Denomme likens the act of granting smartphones to tweens and teens to permitting them to drive.
“It’s akin to our children taking the car out immediately after obtaining their driver’s license,” stated Denomme, founder of an advocacy group focused on raising awareness about digital dangers.
“We wouldn’t simply hand them the keys without questioning their destination.”
Before entrusting children with their smartphones, Denomme advises parents to disable in-app purchases and require parental approval for any acquisitions.
Even after configuring their devices, she recommends regular check-ins with children, initially on a daily basis, to discuss their online activities.
“I urge parents to engage with their children online, enabling them to comprehend and identify potential red flags,” she mentioned.
Denomme addressed the tendency of parents to overly safeguard their children’s privacy.
“No — it’s your device. You’ve procured the smartphone, and it’s entirely permissible to implement these precautionary measures,” she asserted.
Source link: Calgary.citynews.ca.
