Free service allows parents to control their child's smartphone use

New research reveals the majority of teenagers between the age of 12 and 17 now have a smartphone, but one major telco is putting parents back in control with a free service.

Fresh data from Telstra reveals 68 percent of tweens and young teenagers have a smartphone.

Twelve is the age when most children are allowed their first device, but some parents have given their three-year-old child their own phone.

With the proliferation of the technology comes the worry about who children are talking to or texting, who is trying to get in touch with them, and what websites they are browsing.

Telstra has introduced new technology, called Mobile Protect, which gives parents more control over their child's phone.

The service enables parents to block specific ingoing and outgoing calls and texts, set up a safe list of numbers and websites, and set time limits on web browsing and calls.

For more details, watch the video from 6pm in the player above.