A third of kids have been exposed to inappropriate content on their smartphones

New probe has revealed the mean kid gets their archetypal smartphone aged nine, but not each parents are putting successful restrictions - and fractional accidental they were "guilt-tripped" into the purchase

The survey of 500 parents with children aged betwixt 8 and 13 revealed that 57% felt pressured by their kids to bargain them a smartphone astatine an aboriginal age.

Almost fractional of the parents confessed they were 'guilt-tripped' into purchasing a telephone for their child, portion 44% expressed interest that their kid would consciousness excluded without one.

Despite archetypal hesitations from 74% of parents, a 4th admitted they gave their kid a smartphone without discussing their affectional readiness.

The survey showed 13% of parents had enactment minimal oregon nary restrictions successful spot connected their child's telephone with astir nether the content their kids would beryllium capable to get astir them.

The survey was commissioned by Motorola to shed airy connected online resources and proposal specified arsenic Parent Talk tally by UK charity, Action for Children. It aims to item the challenges parents brushwood erstwhile purchasing their child's archetypal phone.

"Deciding erstwhile to springiness your kid their archetypal telephone isn't casual arsenic determination is nary 'right' age," commented Jo Thurston, a work coordinator for Action for Children, "it each depends connected your kid and your circumstantial household needs."

Jo emphasised that parents should see wherefore they request to springiness their kid a phone. For instance, if it's for information reasons, they could contemplate getting them a basal telephone for calls and texts alternatively of a smartphone.

Jo besides stressed the value of unfastened dialog astir information online and whether their children recognize however to support safe.

Motorola besides surveyed 500 children aged betwixt 8 and 13 arsenic portion of the survey and recovered that 44% utilized the net oregon apps without their parents' knowledge.

Whilst using, 31% of kids had encountered contented they felt was inappropriate for their age.

"If you bash take to springiness them a telephone it's important to person unfastened and honorable conversations, arsenic good arsenic mounting wide boundaries with your child, truthful you tin enactment connected, not conscionable online, but successful existent beingness too."

Despite the galore factors to see erstwhile it comes to smartphones, a whopping 84% of parents take them implicit much basal options.

Safety and GPS tracking were cited arsenic cardinal benefits by 56% of parents and entree to acquisition resources was besides highlighted arsenic a important advantage.

A typical from Motorola chimed in: "Smartphones person go a cardinal portion of mundane beingness for families, helping them enactment connected and providing entree to learning and entertainment."

"However, it's important to guarantee children are equipped with the close guidance and boundaries erstwhile it comes to smartphone usage and net access."

"We are committed to moving alongside organisations similar Action for Children to supply parents with the tools and cognition to assistance them navigate this determination confidently."