What are some of the safety tips parents should follow before handing mobile devices to their children?

1.       Too early.

If your child is with a trusted adult, he/she shouldn't need a cell phone. It's when kids start to walk to school by themselves, or otherwise are without supervision, that they need a cell phone for safety reasons. But still be responsible and don’t give your child a phone too early.

2.       Agree to rules.

·         Before that first cell phone of your child agree with some rules.

·         Don’t talk to strangers

·         Don’t share private information phone your cell phone number?)

·         Practice internet safety

·         Keep it safe

·         Never response to unknown numbers

·         And fallow the rules.

As a written agreement is a great way for your kids to step into this new responsibility without over-parenting.  If your kids suggest rules then be negotiate until you are happy and comfortable.

3.       Don’t download any application without ur permission

·         Today phone are having millions of different apps free available to download so be restricted and keep an eye which app your kids going to have in phone.

·         What is the purpose of app?

·         Does the app take and share picture, audio or video

·         Is the app tracking location... if yes why..?

·         Does the app attempt to be anonymous or secretive.

·         Is the App free? Will the App require money or pay money to the user?

·         Parents should familiarize themselves with the computers and mobile devices that they are giving to their kids. Being knowledgeable about the technology will go a long way.

·         Whenever possible check the settings on various Apps to ensure that they are not broadcasting location information without your knowledge.

·         It is also recommended that parents use their own sign-in credentials when configuring the phone or device so that your kids can not download paid Apps without your unique password. This provides an easy way for you to authorize all the Apps downloaded to your child’s phone.

·         Finally, converse with your children, set clear limits on device use and let them know whether they get into a circumstance online and don't recognize what to do, the initial step is to tell a mindful grown-up in their life.

Well I spot a post on FB and I think it is the exact answer you are looking for,According to that post:

family teen smartphone protocols:

(1) Mom and dad have all phone passwords. If passwords are changed without prior approval phone is confiscated for X amount of time.

(2) Phones are handed in atpm every night and charge in mom and dads room in the charging tray. Phones are given back in the mornings (weekends included)

(3) The kids all have their own Apple ID's set up on a family plan where all apps are approved by mom or dad (electronically). Any unapproved apps (by using an alternative account) results in phone confiscation.

(4) They can use Instagram as their social media platform with account set on private. Friends are approved by mom or dad. No FB, snapchat, Twitter, Kik, etc. No social messaging apps.

(5) Location tracking (Find Friends) must be turned on at all times. Turning location off (for any amount of time) without prior approval results in phone confiscation.

(6) No texting, emailing, editing photos, while walking in public. Mandatory to pay attention to surroundings when in public.

There are many other things that are involved in our family smartphone policy but these are some of the main ones. So far it's worked for us with some minor hiccups here and there. The kids were involved in setting up the policies so there is a mutual understanding of why we have regulations. It was important to us that they didn't feel their freedom was stifled while maintaining a safe way for them to engage with the world and their friends. Clearly we cannot police everything... nor is that our desire. The goal is to hopefully instill principles that are understood and agreed upon rather than just setting up rules and enforcing them. If all we do is set up rules that they are forced to follow, they'll just stop following them when you're not around. We found that by allowing them to be a part of the decision process that they are more inclined to hold themselves to a higher standard iA.

I'm curious to know what other parents do about teen smartphone usage.

"Parenting teens is always super fun" - said nobody... ever.