According to recent C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Poll on Children’s Health led by Matt Davis, 41 percent of parents are concerned with the amount of time their children spend sending text messages. 'Sexting,' the sharing of sexually explicit material through a cell phone is also of concern to parents. As Davis explained to the Detroit Free Press, "There is a mismatch between teens' ability to use technology and their developmental stage, where they are best able to appreciate and understand the material they're receiving and sending."
The study found that over 50 percent of parents limit the amount of time that children can use their cell phones, but Davis encourages other safeguards like technical mechanisms for blocking images or monitoring messages for risks of 'sexting.'