Children’s charity Childnet International is concerned that the lessons from the fixed Internet experience are learnt and carried over to the ‘mobile Internet’ world.  With this aim, they produced ‘Children & Mobile Phones: an Agenda for Action.’

This introduces the key issues that need to be addressed to ensure that the risks facing children are minimised and that children can really benefit from the new mobile technologies.

The ‘Agenda for Action’ provides recommendations for children and young people, parents, teachers and schools, government and law enforcement, mobile operators, product developers, content providers and retailers.
 
Childnet helped to kick-start the debate in the area of mobile phones and their use by children.  In March 2003, together with the Internet Association Japan, they held an international expert seminar on the subject in Tokyo.

The seminar brought together academics, mobile industry representatives, child welfare experts, and others.  It looked at the impact and potential impact of this new technology on children and also considered what responses would be needed from relevant actors to safeguard children using this technology.

Childnet have sought to explore how mobile technology can be used positively.  It organised the Childnet Challenge, a pilot project to bridge social divides, and the awareness-raising Kidsmart programme.

A section of the Chatdanger website is dedicated to the different safety issues raised by mobile technology – such as meeting strangers, bullying, inappropriate use of camera phones, and looking after your mates.

Childnet are active members of the UK Home Office Task Force on child protection on the Internet, and assisted UK mobile operators in forming their code of practice.