Is it Time for Your Kid to Have a Phone?
It’s the back-to-school season for many families and kids, teens, college students and parents alike are gearing up for another year in and out of the classroom.
Back-to-school is the second largest shopping season after the winter holidays. School supplies and clothing are always the most popular items, but one of the biggest questions many parents face this time of the year is whether it’s the right time to get their kid or teen their first phone. A survey commissioned by T-Mobile found that nearly 50% of parents got their child their first smartphone before age 12. And interestingly, of that same group of parents, 78% said after age 12 is the best time to get a child their first smartphone (in other words, in hindsight, many parents would’ve waited longer).
If you’re thinking about getting your kid a phone, there are a few things to consider. T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile have put together a handy list of tips around the best devices, apps, and general advice for parents whose kids are about to enter the mobile world.
1. Understand your kid’s needs
Before you purchase a phone, make a list of the reasons why your child needs a phone. This will help you figure out what your kid’s needs are, narrow down the best devices and figure out how to keep your kids safe. Some of the best questions to ask are:
2. You may not need the latest or most expensive device
Depending on your child’s age and the reasons why you’re getting them a phone, it might be a good idea to start off with a less expensive feature phone rather than a high-end smartphone.
Feature phones like the Alcatel GO FLIP allow you to talk and text, but don’t have all the additional bells and whistles that smartphones have. Plus, they’re usually more durable, have a much longer battery life, and are less expensive than even budget smartphones. If your kid spends a lot of time at after-school activities or out with friends, a feature phone will let them get in contact with you, friends, or the police in the case of an emergency.
With that said, there are also plenty of budget smartphones that are great for kids and teens, such as the Samsung Galaxy A10e or Motorola Moto g7 Power.
3. Know what phones can be used for, and how kids are using them
Aside from letting you call and text, smartphones (and tablets) can be a fantastic supplement to your child’s education, no matter their age. For example, there are a litany of subject-based apps on the Apple App or Google Play stores for learning new vocabulary and languages, practicing math problems, reading books or even learning music. Khan Academy, Duolingo and Wolfram|Alpha are some of the most popular educational apps.
But with the digital world at our fingertips, there are also plenty of distractions to be aware of. According to the Pew Research Center, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are used by most smartphone-toting teens. YouTube is also most commonly used among children under 12, with one study estimating that more than 74% will be digital video viewers this year. YouTube was also the No.1 most popular brand for kids aged 6-12.
4. Familiarize yourself with the tools parents use to keep kids safe
If you’re going to get your kids their first phone, or if they already have a phone, you may want to check in regularly to make sure they’re managing their usage and online activities appropriately.
Many devices come pre-loaded with tools to help keep kids safe. Both Apple and Android devices come with parental control and screen time tools. You can block or limit specific apps and features on your child's device. You can also restrict the settings for explicit content, purchases and downloads, and privacy.
Another option is a 3rd party tool like T-Mobile’s FamilyMode. With FamilyMode, you can set time limits and content filters, pause internet access and give screen time as a reward for good grades or behavior. It also offers real-time location tracking to make sure kids get home or to school safely, or so you know where your children are in case of an emergency.
No one can tell you which age is best for your kid to get their first smartphone, but you’ll be more prepared if you think about the reasons why you’re getting your kids a phone and look into ways to protect your kids before you buy.
=================================
Announces First North American
Headline Tour
With Support from Microwave,
Heart Attack Man and Selfish Things
Tickets on sale Wednesday, August 21 at 10AM Local Time
Stream "England's Dreaming (Acoustic)"
+ B-Side Today HERE
August 19, 2019 - Blackpool, England - After numerous tours supporting artists like A Day To Remember, Knocked Loose, Movements, Real Friends and more, Blackpool five-piece Boston Manor has announced their first full-length headlining North American Tour. With support from label-mates Microwave and Selfish Things as well as the ever-captivating Heart Attack Man, this winter tour will kick off in Boston on November 20, traveling to cities across the United States and Canada before wrapping up back on the East Coast in Hartford, CT on December 20.
Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 21 @ 10am local time at www.bostonmanorband.com
"We're really excited to be doing our first ever full US headline tour. It feels like we've been working towards this for the last 3 years. We're lucky enough to have an amazing line-up of bands coming with us for it" shares front man Henry Cox on the upcoming tour.
In addition to today's announcement, the band has dropped an acoustic version of fan-favorite track "England's Dreaming" as well as a B-side remix of "Welcome To The Neighbourhood", courtesy of Lebrock. The original versions of these tracks appeared on the band's second full-length album, released last fall via Pure Noise Records.
"We recorded this acoustic version of England's Dreaming as part of some studio sessions at the beginning of the year. We play this live acoustically some times & I'm glad we got to explore this version of the song in a recording" shares Cox on the re-imagined tracks. "We reached out to Lebrock to see if they wanted to do a remix for the B Side, they picked ' Welcome To The Neighbourhood' & it came out great!"
Fans can stream both songs today HERE
Ahead of their return to North America, the band will take to the iconic BBC Radio 1 Stage at the equally iconic Reading & Leeds Festivals at the end of August. Boston Manor were recently seen whipping up frenzies at Slam Dunk Festival and various other mammoth festivals across the US, instigating crowd reactions indicative of just how far the five-piece have come during their short time as a band.
A full list of upcoming North American tour dates can be found below:
Upcoming North American Tour Dates
November 20 - Boston, MA - Sinclair
November 21- New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
November 22 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
November 23 - Philadelphia, PA - Foundry @ The Fillmore
November 25 - Charlotte, NC - Amo's
November 26 - Orlando, FL - Soundbar
November 27 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Hell
November 29 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
November 30 - Austin, TX - Barracuda
December 2 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile
December 3 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
December 4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
December 5 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
December 7 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
December 8 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
December 10 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
December 11 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
December 13 - Kansas City, MO - Davey's Uptown
December 14 - Springfield, MO - Outland Ballroom
December 15 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
December 17 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter
December 18 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
December 19 - Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground
December 20 - Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
Welcome To The Neighbourhood has garnered impressive praise from outlets like Alternative Press, Kerrang!, Upset Magazine, Substream Magazine and more. Rock Sound went so far as to place the album in their #3 spot of the "Top 50 Albums of the Year", sharing that "No band levelled up to the extent that Boston Manor did this year. In not so much building on their debut 'Be Nothing' as burning half of it down and moulding it into something entirely new, their follow-up was heavy, murky, filled with genuinely innovative songwriting and marked them out as one of the best young rock bands in Britain."
Fans can purchase and stream Welcome To The Neighbourhood at http://bostonmanorband.com.
Boston Manor is Henry Cox - Vocals, Daniel Cunniff - Bass Guitar, Ash Wilson - Guitar, Mike Cunniff - Guitar and Jordan Pugh - Drums.
Follow Boston Manor:
https://www.facebook.com/bostonmanoruk/
https://www.instagram.com/bstnmnr/
===================
How To Throw Out Your Phone
On A Summer Road Trip
When you go on your summer vacation, can you also take a vacation from your smartphone?
Can you give Facebook and Instagram a rest and enjoy conversing with the people around you rather than constantly scrolling, posting, and checking for comments from your legion of followers?
Critics of chronic users of smartphones and social media doubt people can go without them for long. In today’s digitally consumed world, taking a “digital detox” is difficult for many to do.
But Johnny Welsh (www.johnnywelsh.com), author of Paper Maps, No Apps: An Unplugged Travel Adventure, says vacation is the perfect time to disconnect — and that it may change your perspective, and your life, if you do.
“With this addiction to our smartphones, this obsession to be connected with the world, we fail to connect with the people sitting right in front of us,” says Welsh, whose book chronicles a 16-day road trip in the western U.S. that he and his girlfriend, Kristy, took while detaching from smartphones and social media.
“The disconnect in face-to-face interactions keeps growing; I see it happening more as smartphones get ‘smarter.’ I imagine what would happen if aliens landed on earth and observed us. They might think a smartphone is something we need to live, like an external nervous system.”
On his road trip, Welsh endeavored to experience “how different life could be without the constant seduction of the flat screen” — while also examining his own social media habits with a sense of humor. Likewise, he thinks others who ditch their phones on a getaway can better live in the moment while not being digitally distracted.
“Be present,” Welsh says. “Turn off your device and really live. Vacations should be a real break from our technology-soaked lives.”
Welsh gives five tips on how to disconnect from your smartphone and enjoy vacation without it:
Use paper maps. Welsh says this is the first big step to looking at what’s around you rather than looking at your phone. “Using the old-school way, you won’t have to go to Google Maps for navigation and have an excuse to keep using your phone,” Welsh says. “Plus, using your brain, your imagination fires up like when you were a kid, looking at the back roads on an old map and wondering where they all lead.”
Delete tempting apps. “Addicted to Twitter or other sites? Delete the app from your phone before you leave on vacation,” Welsh says, “and don’t reinstall it until you get back.”
Buy a disposable camera or a real one. “Rather than take selfies on your phone, and constantly posting pictures and agonizing over the perfect hashtags, you can capture memories the old-fashioned way,” Welsh says. “And this way you actually enjoy your surroundings without having your face in a screen most of the day.”
Check hotels with digital-detox discounts. “Yes, they’re out there,” Welsh says. “Some places offer room discounts for giving up your phone upon check-in. A reawakening starts with forced human interaction. We did that for thousands of years before.”
Read. “Remember that?” Welsh asks. “Rather than being entranced on your phone, bring a good book. The act of reading a physical book quiets and calms us, incorporates the sense of touch and smell, and allows us to become part of the story in a way that no pop-up headline can.”
“We’re relying too much on instant technology,” Welsh says. “There can be life — a higher quality of life — without these devices.”
About Johnny Welsh
Johnny Welsh (www.johnnywelsh.com) is the author of Paper Maps, No Apps: An Unplugged Travel Adventure. His first book, Weedgalized in Colorado, about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, won two awards from Readers’ Favorite. A professional bartender in Frisco, Col., for 20 years, he has a B.A. in Italian language, literature and culture from Syracuse University.
