Kids smartphone usage rampant: study

Australian children are spending, on average, almost an entire day of the week on their smartphones.

Research released by Telstra on Monday says that more than two thirds (68 per cent) of children aged three to 17 own a smartphone and an average of 21 hours and 48 minutes per week is spent on the devices.

The online survey of 1365 parents concluded that their top concerns involved the time-sapping power of phones and risks around cyber safety and sexting.

However, while two-thirds of the parents said they had discussed usage guidelines, a quarter reported difficulties carrying them out.

Sydney-based family researcher Justin Coulson advises parents that the best rules were those created with the child's input.

"There's no point writing out the terms of a contract if the kids have no say in it," said the father of six.

Dr Coulson also recommends a minimum age of 12 or 13 for children to be given a phone.

"And then make it a dumb one. Smart parents give their kids dumb phones," he said, advising that phones with only text and call capabilities were better options than smartphones.

"You don't give them too much too soon ... kids don't need smartphones."

SMARTPHONE USAGE AMONGST KIDS

- 12 is the average age of ownership.

- 10 year olds spend an average 14.7 hours on their phones.

- 17 year olds send an average 26.3 hours on their phones.

- More than half (54 per cent) of those who own smartphones also own a tablet.

- Facebook, instant messaging and Snapchat are the most distracting apps, according to parents.

(Source: Telstra - commissioned report by Maidstone Consulting and Empowered Communications, February 2015.)