Why is it important to be over 18 before getting a phone plan?
Today’s generation are more technology savvy than ever before. Children as young as 10 now have their own smartphones and other connected devices. Many children have access to a prepaid plan now.
Compare the latest prepaid kids plans
There’s an ongoing debate about what is the right age to use smartphones. While many think that below the age 14 is too young to use smartphones, many more are of the argument that the use of smartphones is totally dependent on the child.
The many reasons to be concerned because smartphones provide internet access. Children can be exposed to adult content such as pornography, online bullies and myriad of other unsafe activities. The other school of thought simply notes that communication mechanisms are moving forward, hence children should be given the opportunity to experience this growth.
A graph by Roy Morgan highlighting the behaviours in smartphone use by teens aged 14-17. Source
While there is no “right“ age to get a phone and plan, it is generally advisable to get a phone when you’re over 18. If you wait, you’ll be able to benefit from certain perks offered by telcos, such as post-paid phone plans, reward systems, and many more. If you’re a parent, you could consider comparing a range of kids phone plans for your child.
What is a prepaid plan?
Over the last decade, the Australian telecommunications industry has seen enormous growth. According to reports offered by top financial firm Deloitte, the industry is currently worth $23 billion. By 2023, it’s expected to be worth $65 Billion, almost triple the current amount. This growth has come with a lot of choice for the consumer, ranging from post-paid to prepaid plans.
Once regarded as the least glamorous of phone plans, prepaid plans are becoming increasingly popular amongst mobile phone subscribers. These plans require the subscriber to pay service fees before they can be fully rendered. Simply put, in order to carry out any activities on the network, the subscriber must make payment first. Services include calls, messages and data.
Prepaid plans take up 45% of the Australian mobile phone service plan market. Source: Whatphone
Prepaid plans are offered by all major Australian telcos (Optus, Telstra and Vodafone) as well as numerous MVNOs.
Benefits of prepaid plans over postpaid plans for users under 18
For users below the age 18, prepaid phone plans pose a unique set of benefits over postpaid plans, such as:
- Ease of access — On prepaid plans, services can be accessed easily by individuals below 18. Unlike post-paid plans, these plans do not require a credit check.
- Widely available — Prepaid plans are widely available. They are offered by all major telcos as well as many other available networks.
- Affordability — Generally, prepaid plans are perceived as more affordable than other types of phone plans. For those under 18, who likely don’t earn a lot of money, prepaid plans are perfect.
- Short term plans — Most prepaid plans are short term, ranging from 28 to 31 days maximum. This allows users to maintain flexibility.
- No overage charges — There are no hidden charges with prepaid plans. Once you run out of the allocated minutes, messages or data, the service simply shuts off. This is particularly beneficial to the parents of the user who’s under 18, as the parent will likely be footing their phone bills.
Final words: What’s more expensive, your phone or the service?
Phone plans are expensive. A smartphone alone costs thousands of dollars, while some service plans could cost hundreds of dollars a month. If you’re worried about your child’s safety, you could get them a cheap phone and a prepaid plan for emergencies.
Sources
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/technology/personaltech/whats-the-right-age-to-give-a-child-a-smartphone.html