Mobiles have 'key role for young'

More parents than ever now see mobiles as vital tools in supervising children's behaviour, giving them peace of mind, and making young people feel safer.
- BBC News - Read full report here

I'm not a parent but I am surprised by this report. Granted, having a mobile could make a child safer in certain situations but I think it makes them targets for other crimes.

As a teenager, I never had a mobile! It was fine! Mum did offer me use of a mobile when i went into town but I told her every time that there is a public phone box every 10meters on the high street! When I did finally get a phone I got used to having one very quickly. Now I would say that I can't really live without one! But ironicly having a phone as a student made me susceptible to muggings and sure enough, my phone was stolen! Maybe even more ironic then, that it was stolen by a trio of 14 year olds!!

Phones and iPods are desirable items for thiefs and giving them to younger children puts them in danger in my opinion. And does anyone else think a 9 year old with a mobile just looks stupid!!

"The study also showed that girls were much more likely to text parents to let them know they were safe"

Maybe you have to be a parent to understand the quote above, this I can see is a good way to reassure parents yet the flip side is what happends if the child doesn't text! Maybe there's nothing wrong at all! So the child's safety hasn't changed at all from when I was 11 but parents feel better about it!