THE BACK TO SCHOOL
SMARTPHONE GUIDE
By Lookout, Inc.

IT’S THE START OF A
NEW SCHOOL YEAR

While you probably
have backpacks and
lunches covered,
sending your kid to
school with a smartphone
is a trickier matter.

HOW DO YOU
KNOW WHEN
THEY’RE READY?

ASK YOURSELF
THESE QUESTIONS:

1
Does your child need the phone
to stay connected with you or for
emergency situations?

2
Does your child understand and
respect the time and usage limits
you have placed on other things
like television and video games?

3
Does your child understand what
types of apps are okay to download
and how to surf the Internet safely?

4
Does your child know how to use
the phone safely and appropriately?
!
Do they know whom and whom not to
communicate with? What they should and
shouldn’t share online? What sorts of words
and pictures NOT to send?

According to a previous Lookout study, parents are split on the issue:
22% of parents think
age 10 is the most
appropriate age
14% think 13 is the most
appropriate age
14% think 16 is the most
appropriate age
 Tweet @Lookout
#PhoneAt10 #PhoneAt13 #PhoneAt16
What age do you think is appropriate?

If you decide a smartphone is
right for your family, keep your
children safe with these tips:

****
This is your first line of defense against
unwanted prying eyes. The last thing you want
is a thief getting a hold of your kid’s personal
photos, texts, and emails.
SET A PASSCODE


With all the new apps kids hear about from their
peers, it’s important to check privacy settings and
have a malware scanning app before your child
downloads anything to your phone.
DOWNLOAD CONFIDENTLY


Once you connect to an unprotected network,
anyone using that network can see your data. When
using public WiFi, advise your child to avoid making
online purchases or providing personal info.
BE SMART IN PUBLIC


1 in10 smartphone owners fall victim to phone theft
and 2 in 5 of these people have their phone stolen
out of a personal belonging like backpacks or
messenger bags. Remind your child to keep their
school bag with them at all times and close zippers
when going to and from classrooms.
WATCH FOR PICKPOCKETS

Lookout’s Theft Alerts feature will automatically
alert you when your child’s phone may have been
stolen and email you a photo of the thief, allowing
you to alert teachers and administrators right away
as to who might have taken the device.
TO CATCH A THIEF,
TAKE A THEFTIE

For more mobile security tips, follow