A Lagos-based Catholic priest, Christian Echewodo, has tasked parents with ensuring guidance on the use of cell phones by their children and wards.

Mr Echewodo, in an interview on Sunday, said that parental guidance should be more on cell phones so that the child would not be influenced negatively.

“Every device should be protected, meaning that parents should install controls on tablets, mobile phones, handheld and home game consoles,” he said.

Mr Echewodo advised parents to always talk with their children, agree on good websites they could visit, speak about them, and regularly review to ensure they did not access anything inappropriate for their age.

“Make sure to tell children they can talk to you if they see anything that is questionable online.

“Having an open relationship with children is essential and vital so they don’t feel like they will get in trouble, but they can learn what appropriate and inappropriate content is,” he said.

Although he said a child of any age could use a mobile phone, he advised parents to ensure that their wards were not addicted to their phones.

“Any age is okay for children to use phones as long as there is a parental guide and a reason for them to use it.

“There should be an essence of using the phone. Is it for research work? Or TikTok? Is it to snap pictures and post them on social media?

“Is it to have a general knowledge of what is happening in the world today? There are so many negative ones and positive ones.”

(NAN)