Tech Tips for a Safe Halloween

Halloween is just a few days away.  And while many are all set for the big night, there are others — parents and kids alike — still stuck in decision mode. From picking the perfect pumpkin, choosing the coolest costume or even selecting the best place to canvas for candy, there’s a lot to consider.  Luckily, AT&T smartphones are just brimming with tricks, treats and tips to help the night go off without a witch … I mean, hitch. 

Safety First

According to the National Consumer League, more than 56 percent of parents have purchased cell phones for their tweens (children aged 8-12). And according to PEW, 77 percent of teens (ages 12-17) own a cell phone.  In fact, 23 percent of these teens actually own a smartphone. 

Safety should always be a top priority, especially on Halloween night when many kids go out into their neighborhood unsupervised.  But since they are typically always armed with their wireless devices, there’s plenty mom and dad can do to keep them safe.  AT&T FamilyMap^sm, for example, allows parents to conveniently locate a family member’s wireless phone on a map from their mobile phone or PC at any time. They can even set up alerts to be notified by text or email of their child’s location at specific times of day.  It’s a great tool for gaining peace of mind when kids are away from home. 

Although most houses are well lit on Halloween, it’s still a good idea to bring along a flashlight in case you find yourself on a poorly lit area. Luckily, there are several free flashlight apps available for download, allowing kids to travel light — literally.  

For parents who are not only chaperoning their trick-or-treaters but also willing to drive them around town to score the best loot, a reliable GPS solution is a must.  AT&T Navigator® provides turn-by-turn GPS navigation and automatic rerouting if you miss a turn, as well as real-time traffic alerts in case you need to take an alternate route. This feature definitely comes in handy during those times when a zombie flash mob takes over the streets.  Although fun to watch, they can definitely slow you down. AT&T Navigator can also help you locate and navigate to nearby restaurants, gas stations, Wi-Fi hotspots and more.

Technology offers parents lots of ways to stay connected and in control. To find more AT&T products and services that are designed to keep families safe and connected all year round, check out our Mobile Safety site.

Fun and Spooky Second

Now that we’ve got a handle on safety, let’s explore ways wireless technology can help amp up the fun factor.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), a record 170 million Americans are expected to celebrate Halloween this year, with total spending for decorations, costumes and candy reaching $8 billion.  Of the people planning to celebrate the holiday, 45 percent plan to wear a costume and 15.1 percent are even planning to dress up their pets. Well if it’s good enough for the pooch, it’s certainly good for the phone. 

AT&T offers cell phone skins that allow users to easily change the appearance of their phone in a style that represents their personal taste, interests or mood.  Customers can create a skin of their own design using the Skinit Customizer or they can choose from a wide selection of designs from professional sports leagues, entertainment, colleges, fashion and more.  There is even a great selection of holiday-themed skins including several for Halloween.

Like other app stores, the AT&T AppCenter offers a variety of Halloween-themed ringtones, Ringback Tones, games, graphics and videos to help customers conjure up another spooky element to their mobile experience.

Many are turning to social media for Halloween help this year such as finding costume ideas, seasonal recipes, entertainment tips, even creative suggestions for goody bags. In fact, the NRF survey revealed that Facebook and Pinterest would both play a role in helping people choose a costume—15.2 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively.  And no doubt, on Halloween night, people will be using their wireless devices to snap images of themselves and others and immediately upload them to their favorite photo sharing sites such as Instagram and Flickr.

Hopefully, this information will give you a better sense of how wireless technology can help create a safer and more fun Halloween.

Have a Happy Halloween!