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The costs of mobile phone subscriptions and various streaming services for music, movies and TV series quickly add up. But who in the family pays for them?
In the past, the bill from the Swiss Collection Agency for the Radio and Television Fee (Serafe) arrived once a year, and with it, the family’s radio and television usage was paid for. Besides this, you maybe had to pay the cost of a landline connection and, possibly, a prepaid card or the annual library fee.
Today, we are inundated with countless options for consuming media, such as the many streaming services for music, movies and TV. Monthly costs often seem low. But if you sign up for services from multiple providers, the annual costs can add up to a pretty penny. And when parents pay all the bills, kids may never realize how much is being spent.
So it’s worth sitting down with your children and taking a closer look at the bills for streaming, radio and TV, library, film rental via Pay TV, internet and so on. By discussing which subscriptions the family uses and how much they cost per month and per year, you encourage your children to become aware of how much they consume.
Because children use streaming services themselves and have an idea of what they involve, subscription costs are particularly well suited as a learning opportunity.
Looking at recurring costs can also prepare children for managing their own budget. If you have older children, you can also discuss subscription costs in the context of the family budget. Children should learn early on how such expenses add up. It raises awareness and helps your child understand that they may not be able to afford all their subscriptions at once.
Don’t just talk about money, but also about how consuming different media affects a person’s life. How much time does your child spend watching movies and TV series? Ask them questions like: Do you really need this? Can you learn anything from it? Or is something else being lost, such as time with friends or for hobbies?
If your children are older, you can research and compare the different options together. This will teach your children to weigh up for themselves which subscriptions are really right for them. Take your child’s opinions and needs seriously and make decisions together. Consider drawing up a simple budget that includes media costs. This will show your children that they are allowed to help shape and decide things.
How parents and guardians themselves consume media plays a major role. Talk about your own experiences and mistakes, such as a subscription you barely used but still paid for a long time. This will create an honest exchange from which you and your child can learn together.
A ban should be a last resort. Restrictions – especially those related to time and age – are useful, but conscious consumption also plays an important role in strengthening digital skills. If you prohibit children and young people from accessing certain content, they’ll become even more curious and be tempted to test their limits. It makes more sense to set clear boundaries from the outset regarding how children are allowed to consume media.
Parents should gradually give their children more responsibility for their media consumption and then reflect on the experiences together.
In many cases it makes sense to take out a family subscription or open an account that siblings can share. Accounts with multiple users are often cheaper than individual accounts for each member of the household. Paying for part of the costs from pocket money or youth wage can be a good solution depending on the situation and can strengthen a sense of responsibility. At the same time, this is preparation for adulthood, when regular financial obligations such as mobile phone subscriptions, health insurance or rent are part of life.
If your child wants subscriptions that your family doesn’t need, it makes sense for them to pay for at least part of these themselves. However, contributing to the costs shouldn’t mean that the child can buy whatever they want. Again, set boundaries together with your child.
In any case, streaming and similar services are not essential. The family doesn’t have to cover these costs, and parents or guardians can clearly state if they don’t want to or cannot afford something.
Mobile phones have become an integral part of young people’s day-to-day lives. Almost all 12- to 13-year-olds in Switzerland now have their own mobile phone – the majority of which are paid for via subscription. As minors are not allowed to sign subscription contracts, parents or legal guardians must sign the contracts for them.
But don’t just decide on your own to sign a contract. First discuss with your child whether and to what extent they really need a mobile phone and then look for a suitable offer together. How much data and how many minutes do they need, and would a prepaid card be sufficient?
Tip: The Federal Government’s online platform Jugend und Medien provides information, tips and advice on promoting media literacy among children and young people.
Media are part of children’s everyday lives but should not define them. It’s vital that they also spend time away from digital media, in the real world – for example, scouting or with friends.
This includes setting clear boundaries as parents or guardians and having the courage to limit usage times or cancel subscriptions. Doing so will help the child develop financial skills, media literacy, personal maturity and consumer awareness, while learning to manage both their money and time wisely.
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