age uk mobile phone

If you’re thinking of buying your first smartphone, or are helping an elderly friend or relative to pick one out, then there’s lots to think about to ensure you choose one that’s going to be simple and convenient to use. Most important is to find a deal that the bill payer is comfortable with and understands fully. For example, if they attend out-of-school sports clubs, are just starting to leave the house on their own or make their own way to school, parents will feel reassured if they do have a phone. Can you trust them not to use their phones to bully or harass others? If you’ve introduced more devices and gadgets to your household recently then don’t forget to update your home and contents insurance to ensure you’re covered. We’ve all experienced the frustration of finding yourself somewhere with poor reception, but for casual phone users and those who don’t really bother with the internet on their phones, good reception is much more important. Phones are much lighter now than they were 20 years ago so it shouldn’t be tricky to find one that won’t weigh your pocket down, but keep in the back of your mind that choices such as a bigger screen or buttons might tip a phone from something easy to slip into your pocket to an inconvenience that gets left at home. When you hand your child their first mobile phone, you’re giving them an incredibly powerful communication tool. Age UK Advice Line 0800 678 1602. We’d love to hear what you have to say about this divisive issue so please share your thoughts in the comments below. What might seem like a good deal to a heavy user of phones could be an unnecessary expense to a casual phone user. The same study found that by the age of 12, 50 percent of children also … Read more about how Age Co use cookies and find out how you can change your browser's cookie settings. For an older person only using a phone occasionally, there’s really no need to splash out on a £30 p/month contract. Age Co Over 50s Home Insurance is designed to protect the items you value, with no hidden admin fees or nasty surprises. Of course, no two children are the same. Does your child have a sense of responsibility? But while more older people are using smartphones, 65+s are still the least likely age group, deliberately slowing the performance of older iPhone models. Given that high-end smartphones seem to get more expensive by the day, it’s hardly surprising that more and more people are turning to second-hand refurbished phones. Telephone friendship. If an elderly person isn’t used to carrying a phone then they might be put off by anything too bulky or heavy that isn’t convenient to add to their bag or pocket. 41% of over 55s listed battery life as a criteria they consider when buying a mobile phone in Kantar Media’s TGI Survey Oct 16 – Sept 17. There are 2 additional buttons to answer calls and to end calls or switch it on and off. The phone is pretty responsive too, with a top-end Snapdragon 855 processor (well, it was top-end when the phone came out), so you won't get confused texts … We also include a free “Pay as you go” SIM card with every phone. Could you trust them not to use their phones in class? Your child will probably be technologically savvy enough to own a phone, but will they have the maturity to use it wisely. Our easy to use mobile phones are specifically designed for visually impaired and elderly people. The Age UK "My Phone" (supplied by CyCell) simplifies phone usage by having no display and up to 8 buttons with fixed numbers. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. Perhaps most important of all is to have a conversation with the child outlining exactly what they can and can’t do on their phone and why. But while more older people are using smartphones, 65+s are still the least likely age group to have one. In fact, it was found in 2017 that 39% of over 65s are using smartphones; an increase of 11% from 2016 to 2017. Many 2018 phones praised for their long battery lives have 4,000mAh batteries or higher, so if you can get a good deal on one of those then you should enjoy a good amount of time out of your battery. Kantar Media’s TGI Survey Oct 16 – Sept 17 found that over 55s were 19% more likely than younger participants to value reception when choosing a mobile phone. Not only can they send messages, create images and send videos to friends, but if they have a smartphone, they’ll also be able to access websites and upload images and videos online. For example, putting a password on the phone’s app store will prevent them from installing apps without your knowledge. This age group was significantly less likely than other participants to value most other factors included in the survey, such as internet speed, camera, brand image and consumer reviews. Get a free weekly friendship call. We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. That being said, phones with small buttons can still be tricky to manage and some older people prefer the larger buttons on touchscreens once they get the hang of them. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. With Apple recently admitting to deliberately slowing the performance of older iPhone models, you’d be surprised at what information comes to light after a little research into other users’ experiences. Of course, no two children are the same. It’s an unfair stereotype to think of elderly people as unable to cope with or uninterested in technology. We'll match you with one of our volunteers. Rather than having to figure o... © Copyright 2020 Lovefone. For example, TTfone’s TT002 features a dial pad, large buttons and a long battery life, is SIM-free and is available to buy from £23. We’d recommend trying out a variety of different style keyboards to find one that the user is comfortable with. In fact, it was found in 2017 that 39% of over 65s are using smartphones; an increase of 11% from 2016 to 2017. It’s true that not growing up with technology from a young age has put older generations at a disadvantage to start learning, and that age-related health problems such as arthritis, poor eye-sight and memory loss can make navigating a smartphone much trickier. What age do most children have phones? We also have specialist advisers at over 140 local Age UKs. choose-uk-ubgmxgqnk.stackpathdns.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. All of our mobiles are sold contract free and you can use any standard size SIM (excluding the 3 network). In theory it's one button to make a call and no chance of getting it wrong. 3.6 million older people live alone in the UK, Kantar Media’s TGI Survey Oct 16 – Sept 17. But while more older people are using smartphones, 65+s are still the least likely age group to have one. They should also understand that nothing is private online. There are sites available that will give you an idea of the best network coverage for your area, including this mobile phone coverage map from Which, so it’s definitely worth looking up the network providers with good coverage in your town and the places you frequently need your phone. For example, do they show up on time and keep you informed about their movements? VAT number: 102202691.Authorised and regulated by the FCA 775189. Mobile phones have certainly come a long way in the last 25 years, from the ‘brick’ phones owned by a handful of yuppies in the early 1990s, to a technology that’s now... “Paper is so 2017”, admittedly said no one ever, but they clearly hadn’t seen the newest range of mobile scanner apps to hit the market. Good reception and ease of use were the only two criteria that over 55s valued more than other age groups. Same Day delivery 7 days a week £3.95, or fast store collection. It’s not uncommon for children at primary school to have phones, but research from 2016 shows that the average age for a child to have their first phone is 10.3 years old, although many parents wait until their child starts secondary school at the age of 11 or 12. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. There’s also the risk that they’ll simply spend too long on their phones in favour of more wholesome pursuits. *Recommendations relevant upon publishing May 2018. It seems much more sensible to invest in a durable phone that can go the distance and won’t fall apart if it accidently slips out of your pocket. Age Co uses to give you the best experience. At Lovefone, we have a range of professionally refurbished devices which could be the perfect stepping stone for your child. So, rather than just sharing our view, we’re going to take an objective look at the appropriate age for mobile phone use and see what the research has to say. If an older person is worried about getting used to a new smartphone, then the last thing they’re going to want to do is to change to a different one every couple of years. We're here to help. Small screens can cause problems for unfamiliar users, and particularly if you’re buying a phone for someone with poor eye-sight, you might want to go for the largest screen you can.