Simple Tips To Help Keep Teen Cell Phone Users Safer

December 26, 2006 – 11:09 am

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Virgin Mobile has issued a list of simple tips that are designed to keep cell phone users safer. Teens have cell phones at an unprecedented rate than ever before, so now more than ever, some simple prevention is in order. Kids are our most valuable resource and their protection is paramount.

In time for the gifting season, Virgin Mobile USA, the nation’s leading
wireless youth network, presents its Top 10 Tips for Teen Cell Phone Safety
to help all cell phone beginners “unwrap” a safe and happy 2007:

1) Pre-program all key contact numbers for parents or other responsible adults into a teen’s cell phone, both for home and work.
2) Make sure to program an ICE (”in case of emergency”) number with appropriate contact information, so that police and other emergency personnel know who to call if the child needs help. This means you list a number so it appears as ICE on the alphabetical contacts list.
3) Make sure they know they can use “911″ for emergencies from cell phones as well.
4) One can also use the preprogrammed keys #2-9 [#1 usually is preset to dial voicemail] using #2 for 911, #3 for home, etc.
5) Remind teens not to say their phone number, name or other personally identifiable information out loud in crowded settings. They never know who might be listening.
6) Teens must be reminded that talking on handsets while driving is a dangerous — and in many states, illegal — distraction and should be avoided. Ear “buds” are useful for talking on the phone but still require dialing, which should not be done while driving. Some phones offer voice-activated dialing; if so, the voice activations should be done in advance. Ideally, teens should pull over in a safe place, turn the car off, keep doors locked and then make their necessary call.
7) Fun features on cell phones like texting, downloading ringtones or instant messaging are great, but it is important to use them in the appropriate time and place. Not only does this relate to courtesy toward others, even more important is to remind teens to remain aware
of their surroundings (such as crossing a busy street or walking alone at night) while using the phone.
Remind them not to use their phone at school.
9) They should give out their cell phone numbers only to people that they know and trust and they should never respond to text messages from an unknown or unrecognizable number.
10) Teach teens how to block suspicious or unwanted numbers from their cell phones.

This list was brought to you compliments of Virgin Mobile USA. Virgin Mobile USA is the fast-growing cellular carrier aimed at teenagers. All in all, this is a nice list which bears study.

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