My Mobile Watchdog tackles cyber bullying

Australian parents will soon have access to a product that monitors their child’s mobile phone usage and could alert them to instances of cyber bullying.

My Mobile Watchdog, as seen recently on Network Ten’s Dr Phil program, is a sophisticated safety tool that logs and stores copies of all mobile activity, including text messages, phone calls, emails, picture messages and websites accessed.

Geoff Sondergeld is the managing director of Device Connections, the exclusive Australian agent for the software, and said parents can be instantly alerted to unauthorised or potentially harmful use.

In Australia, 22 per cent of girls and 15 per cent of boys aged between eight and 11 own a mobile phone, and experts predict double-digit growth in this market in coming years.

“Kids want highly functional mobile phones that allow them to access the same communication tools they would use on their home computer,” Mr Sondergeld said. “A child’s unlimited access to technology creates a form of social underground that parents don’t know exists.”

Recent instances of violent cyber bullying and “sexting” has confirmed the need for greater supervision and My Mobile Watchdog is a way for parents to monitor mobile phone use and ensure their children are safe, he said.

A report by the Youth Advisory Council of New South Wales in 2008 found kids were most commonly bullied through social networking websites, in chat rooms and by e-mail – all of which are accessible on smart phones.

Telephone counselling service Kids Helpline also found bullying was a primary concern for most children who use their service, with 79 per cent of victims experiencing episodic and frequent instances of abuse.

“Generally speaking, parents are not very tech-savvy and are usually unaware of their child’s intricate social communication network – My Mobile Watchdog provides a way of bridging the gap and encourages discussion.

“The product is only one instrument in the parental tool kit and is not offered as a complete solution to cyber safety, however if used in conjunction with open communication and education can empower parents to be able to provide a safe environment for their children.”

My Mobile Watchdog is not spyware – the child will receive an alert that their phone is being monitored every time they switch on the device and parents are encouraged to establish an open dialogue when they install the software.

Rather than taking technology away from children, the software gives parents a flexible supervision tool and the ability to intervene if necessary.

“My Mobile Watchdog is popular in other parts of the world and experience to date indicates it has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on family relations and communication,” Mr Sondergeld said.

Australian parents can register their interest in the software at www.mymobilewatchdog.com.au

Bullying Statistics -
The numbers speak for themselves

• In Australia, 22 per cent of girls and 15 per cent of boys aged between eight and 11-yearsold own a mobile phone. Experts predict double-digit growth in this market in coming years.
• Statistics released in 2007 by telephone counseling service Kids Helpline show bullying is a primary concern for most age groups. Of those bullied, 79 per cent experienced episodic or frequent abuse.
• A research paper by Marilyn Campbell, published in the Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, found the consequences of cyber bullying could be more severe than those of face-to-face bullying.
• Ms Campbell also concluded that parents need to “take back the power to control the technology, as they do other issues”.
• A recent survey of girls by the Department of Education, Science and Training found 57 per cent had been defamed online, but most were reluctant to tell parents or teachers about it.
• A report by The Australia Institute in 2007 found 61 per cent of child mobile phone owners demand the latest technology and features on their handsets. Children as young as six reported having their own mobile phone.
• According to research by Christian Downie and Kate Glazebrook, cited in a 2007 report by The Australia Institute, mobile phone manufacturers are increasingly devoting special attention to the “tween” market – or children aged between six and 13.
• The Youth Advisory Council of New South Wales established a forum in 2008 to investigate cyber bullying, and found the most common ways young people were harassed was through social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, in chat rooms and via e-mail – all of which are available from mobile phones.

Release Date: 21st May 2009

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