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In light of a new era where the internet has opened the doors to communication and information wide open, educating children about the dangers hiding behind this powerful tool given to people, is an imperative need, for many reasons than one.

The exact same thing should happen not only to children using the internet from home. Mobile devices have flooded the market and almost every household has at least one smartphone that parents pass on to their children, as soon as they get themselves a new model.

Children should have safe access to technology, which of course is not an easy job for parents. Implementing parental control on smartphones is much more challenging than monitoring a child that is using the computer at home. A computer is out in the open, or at least it should be. However, with a smartphone a child can download and do practically anything they can, without being spotted by parents.

According to a study conducted by Bridgewater University, cyberbullying is a worrying concern, given that it increases as the child gets older. Choosing which app to download is also another point of concern for parents. A recent article posted in CNET, mentions that paedophiles have found their way to reach young children by using a smartphone application called Kik, which is widely used from youngsters ever since it has been launched in 2010. It allows users to send pictures and messages to each other within an eye’s blink, completely free. They use Kik to request sexually explicit images from children, and then they may even teach children into performing sex acts for them. According to the police, most complains about inappropriate use of Kik involve 8-to-13-year olds. The same app is also used for cyberbullying. Google has just tweeked their social networking application ( Google+ app for the iPhone's iOS ) which has the ability to share photographs and more importatly when it come down to safety, the users location with other friends.

It becomes obvious that parents are shouldered with a heavy duty to protect their children and be careful when they hand their old smartphone over to them. In order to help you, parents, deal with the rising threat coming from internet use and dangerous smartphone use, here are some basics to get you on track.

1.Children will undoubtedly ask for their own cell phone. The secret is to meet their request only of you feel your child really needs a cell phone. If your child has a cell phone at hand and disregards you, while paying more attention to his/her friends, you have got a first sign that your child is not ready to handle his/her own cell phone, yet.

2.It is extremely important your child abides by the restrictions you set, in regards cell phone use. Since kids are more likely to send texts, rather than make voice calls, you should better put rules to texting technology, like allowing texting at specific hours. Maybe, if you tell your child that you will be reviewing their texts from time to time, they might easier keep out of inappropriate texting.

3.Experts say that a kid is mature enough to have their own cell phone around the age of 11. However, they shouldn’t have internet access from it before they become 15.

4.No matter what experts say, and what they suggest as precaution measures to prevent inappropriate use of cell phones by children, the key is communication. If you keep an open communication’s channel and your child is free to tell you about anything going on in their lives, you will always be a step ahead from those that may jeopardize your family’s peaceful life. You can also look for cell carriers that block phone-based purchases, and apply filters in free content. Additionally, you can seek services that give you more control-options when your child is using his/her cell phone, and/or pay in advance for texting and minutes your child can use.

A smartphone has a number of benefits no one can refuse, alongside dangers coming from inappropriate use and manipulative, dark people with internet access, or access to apps like Kik. The key to ensure your child’s safety when using the phone is education. Teach them, and better off, teach them by example. They sure will follow.