One study estimates 83% of five-to-eight year olds know how to use a smartphone or table. Add to that the $3 billion mobile porn industry, and experts say exposure is inevitable.
Those same experts say handing over a device unsupervised to a child is like dropping a child off in the worst part of town and saying you'll be back in two hours.
One family says they're still dealing with the aftermath of what happened when their 10-year-old son looked up pornography on their smartphone.
We are calling them "Melissa" and "Joe" to protect their privacy.
It was kind of a shock to us that he even googled it, said Joe. The kid that actually told him to look it up was younger than him. I think he was 8 years old.
Melissa says she was not only shocked, but saddened.
It was really tough for me. I think I cried, she said.
They found out about it by happening to search the history on a family smartphone and computer. Now, they are worried about addiction.
I dont want him to have that addiction. I know it ruins lives, she said.
Lifestar Network co-founder and therapist Todd Olson says addicted children may isolate themselves, or act secretive, obsessive, and irritable.
Youve got to keep a tab on them right now, and clamp everything down, said Olson.
His advice: use blocks, passwords, and passcodes. Get parental safety controls and filtering software. Put Google and YouTube in Safety Mode.
Kids have so much freedom that parents have forgotten how to supervise, said Dr Douglas Goldsmith, the executive director of The Childrens Center.
Goldsmith says keep the computer in sight at all times, like in a central part of the home.
Kids really cant have computers and TVs in their bedrooms. Thats just a recipe for disaster because of what they are going to be watching, he said.
Olson says no phones in bedrooms at night should also be a firm rule.
Hes going to get a text and the high percentage of students in junior high and high school that are sexting is way high, said Olson.
Parents can do everything right, but their child can still be exposed, or they can try to get around the blocks and controls. So, experts say, talk to your kids.
Talk to the child about how, 'I understand how curious you are and you were really curious and wanted to go there. But its not good for you. Here are ways that we can use your free time that are much more productive,' said Goldsmith.
Olson says kids need a healthy sex education thats age appropriate. And Goldsmith says we need more empathy and awareness and education about whats going on in the porn world.
Weve got to do a much better job educating, even young boys about this. These aren't girls that wanted you to really see them without their clothes on. These are girls that are being forced to do it or paid to do it who are starving if they don't do it, said Goldsmith.
These therapists say parents are still the most important people in kids lives. You do have influence, they add, and you can use it to protect your children.
Thats the answer. Stay close, stay connected, said Olson.
Those same experts say handing over a device unsupervised to a child is like dropping a child off in the worst part of town and saying you'll be back in two hours.
One family says they're still dealing with the aftermath of what happened when their 10-year-old son looked up pornography on their smartphone.
We are calling them "Melissa" and "Joe" to protect their privacy.
It was kind of a shock to us that he even googled it, said Joe. The kid that actually told him to look it up was younger than him. I think he was 8 years old.
Melissa says she was not only shocked, but saddened.
It was really tough for me. I think I cried, she said.
They found out about it by happening to search the history on a family smartphone and computer. Now, they are worried about addiction.
I dont want him to have that addiction. I know it ruins lives, she said.
Lifestar Network co-founder and therapist Todd Olson says addicted children may isolate themselves, or act secretive, obsessive, and irritable.
Youve got to keep a tab on them right now, and clamp everything down, said Olson.
His advice: use blocks, passwords, and passcodes. Get parental safety controls and filtering software. Put Google and YouTube in Safety Mode.
Kids have so much freedom that parents have forgotten how to supervise, said Dr Douglas Goldsmith, the executive director of The Childrens Center.
Goldsmith says keep the computer in sight at all times, like in a central part of the home.
Kids really cant have computers and TVs in their bedrooms. Thats just a recipe for disaster because of what they are going to be watching, he said.
Olson says no phones in bedrooms at night should also be a firm rule.
Hes going to get a text and the high percentage of students in junior high and high school that are sexting is way high, said Olson.
Parents can do everything right, but their child can still be exposed, or they can try to get around the blocks and controls. So, experts say, talk to your kids.
Talk to the child about how, 'I understand how curious you are and you were really curious and wanted to go there. But its not good for you. Here are ways that we can use your free time that are much more productive,' said Goldsmith.
Olson says kids need a healthy sex education thats age appropriate. And Goldsmith says we need more empathy and awareness and education about whats going on in the porn world.
Weve got to do a much better job educating, even young boys about this. These aren't girls that wanted you to really see them without their clothes on. These are girls that are being forced to do it or paid to do it who are starving if they don't do it, said Goldsmith.
These therapists say parents are still the most important people in kids lives. You do have influence, they add, and you can use it to protect your children.
Thats the answer. Stay close, stay connected, said Olson.