Mobile phone safety for kids

If you're lucky enough to have a mobile phone for safety or for fun, or you sometimes borrow your mum or dad's, then you need to be aware of the dangers.

Mobile Phone Safety Tips

• Keep your phone with you at all times. If you are worried about someone taking it at school or if you are out, leave it at home.
• Only give your mobile number to your friends and people that you trust.
• Don't lend your phone to someone you don't know or trust, or put it in a place where other people could get hold of it.
• Most phones allow you to lock your phone with a PIN code. If you don't have the code you can't unlock it, so if anyone steals your phone they won't be able to use it.
• If someone is pressuring you into giving them your number, tell someone about it such as a teacher or a parent.
• If you have Bluetooth on your phone, keep this switched off when you are not using it.

What can I do if someone is bullying me through my mobile?

It's now quite easy for mobile phone companies to trace the identity of anyone who is sending nasty or abusive text messages. If you are being bullied and receiving nasty or threatening language on your mobile tell an adult, like a parent or teacher, who can help you put a stop to this.

• Don't reply to any nasty messages you receive.
• Keep the messages that you have been sent so you can show someone.
• Don't answer any calls that are from a withheld number, or from a number you don't know.
• Change your mobile number and only give your new number out to close friends.
• If the problem is serious, tell the Police.

All UK mobile companies are used to dealing with nuisance calls and have people you can call who can help you deal with this.

For more information about mobile phone safety, including who to contact if you're being bullied please visit the website.