When will your children

[scottish]

When will you allow your children to use the internet, mobile phones, tablets, etc?

Will you ease them into it at an early age so they can get used to it (which will come in useful in school and further life), or will you keep it until later due to what internet can cause (addiction, social exclusion, etc)?

[buttons]

il probably just keep a shared laptop so they can't be on it constantly. ill probably give them a mobile when they're young for use ONLY when they're sleeping over somewhere or going out of town/out somewhere. other than that, id prefer them to not have mobile phones that can be addictive until they're a bit older.
it might seem extreme and i don't think technology is evil but it has been for me and i really wish i had other things to keep me preoccupied when i was a teen, the internet has just been too addicting and damaging for me but end of the day it's their choice.

[Stephen]

if they wanted to then id let them go on for a certain amount of time each day but id proper keylog the **** out of the computer while they're young

then after they're whatever yr old id let them access whatever they like as long as its not making bombs or watching rape porn

[Shar]

Shared computer no tablet or phone until secondary school.

[Sho]

I think I got my first phone when I was about 7 but it was one of those nokia brick phones lolol, but my friend was hit in the head by a swing as she was pushing my other friend and she was knocked out. it'd have been a 10-15 walk home to get help so I was quite lucky to have my phone with me to call someone, so I'd probs give mine a phone as soon as they go outside to places that's further than just outside the house in case something happens :P.

and I'd probably just let them use the house pc/laptop too but would just limit their time on it and encourage them to go outside cause I spent way too much time on it as a kid lolol

[Samantha]

I never had a phone until I was around 13, and then I never even had any contacts or used it until I was about 15/16. I used to just use the school phone if I needed my parents, so I always had change on me. Again, I didn't get the Internet either until I was 13 and then it was a shared laptop until I was about 15. I am so glad I didn't have the things when I was younger as I'm sure I'd have been addicted from a really young age, but I if I ever went on for too long they'd stop me etc.

As for my children, I think I'd allow them to have a laptop from a young age, I wouldn't be too worried about what they went on, as long as they knew right from wrong and I'd put safety locks in place. However, I'd ideally like to at least see them on it, so I could look over and see if they're ok every so often. A tablet is a weird one and I know they can be very educational, so again fairly young if they want to play games and such - as they'd probably receive my old gams consoles and games too, so a little similar.

With a phone, I think if they're out with friends, or anyone really not a school and not with an adult then I'd like them to have one then. I understand they could become addicted to them too, so I'd also watch out and make sure that primarily it was used for emergencies.

[Inseriousity.]

12 years old. they can go have a childhood first lol

[Charz777]

I got my first mobile at 11 but it was a Nokia 3410 so it was for texting my mum/best friend and playing Snake :P If my children want the current hi-tech phones or whatever the future comes up with they'll be waiting until they are 13/14 years old.

My children will be able to use the internet for school, probably on a 'household' computer, #mymathsisepic! but they won't go on the internet for anything else until they are around 13. I had my own PC at about 12 but that was to play The Sims and Theme Hospital. I didn't get internet access until I was about 14 in my own room on my own PC.

[Sian]

a shared desktop, so it can't be used, up until they go to sixth form/college, as it was for me. I had a phone from 10, just so i could contact in case of emergencies, so if bricks still exist (if I ever have kids) then they'll get a brick that cant access the internet etc.

So when I feel it's appropriate etc they might get it.