Investigation uncovers children young as four being groomed for tech support
An vastÂ number of children and young people are being groomed by adults to provide technical support on increasingly complex personal technology, a new investigation has revealed. Clara Baker runs HelpDesk, a charity for overworked youngsters, and led the investigation. She told us, âAnyone over 60 will struggle to operate even the most rudimentary electronic device.â âThis means that in todayâs society children are under constant pressure to help family and neighbours with their ill-advised technology purchases.â âWeâve had cases where children as young as four have been sent to programme a DVD recorder or turn off predictive text.â âThe problem is especially bad in the UK, where there is only one child for every 50 pensioners.â A child who cannot be named for legal reasons told us, âMy grandad bought the simplest phone there was. Itâs basically just a CB radio handset.â âBut he still needs me to work the buttons if he loses his glasses. I keep telling him that just pressing the screen harder wonât do anything. I havenât had a night off in over a month.â Ms. Baker added, âThe government needs to make forced child tech support a priority issue in the general election.â âAnd it wouldnât hurt to add something to the National Curriculum so that children can learn that itâs OK to say ânoâ to morons.â