I wouldn’t give my daughter a smartphone until she was 11, says Samsung boss

A SAMSUNG boss refused to give his daughter a smartphone until she was 11.

James Kitto, the head of the company’s mobile division in Britain and Ireland, said he wanted to keep her safe online.

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It comes days after research showed one in ten nine-year-olds had been exposed to adult content while using mobiles and computers.

Mr Kitto told the BBC’s Today programme: “What is important here is that, whoever is using a smartphone, of whatever age, is safe when they are browsing the internet.

“From my personal perspective, my daughter got a smartphone when she was 11.

“Whatever age you make that choice for your child, it is important to ensure that, if they are accessing the internet, they are accessing it in a safe way.”

Earlier this week, a survey for the Children’s Commissioner for England found by 11 a quarter of children had been exposed to porn and half had seen it by 13.

Such exposure has been linked to low self-esteem among young people and harmful views of sex and relationships.

All phone providers give free parental control services to limit what children can see on the internet, according to the telecoms regulator Ofcom.