SPECIAL REPORT: Guiding children through the online playground

MANY a teenager got a smartphone for Christmas. It is the “must have” accessory in their eyes, with many competing to have what they think is the best, or arguing whether Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 trumps the iPhone 5.

The debate has long raged as to the suitability of mobile phones for children, with some parents expressing a concern as to the young age from which children are constantly attached to the handsets.

The proliferation of smartphones has introduced a new and much more insidious element into that debate. The rapid development of the technology means that, with one tap, the teenager has often unfettered access to all aspects of the internet.