A huge number of teenagers are spending too much on their mobile phones says Dutch broadcaster RTL News.

A survey done through the Hyves internet social network shows that just 27 percent of 12 to 19-year-olds are aware of how much they actually spend on their mobile phones and keep within their subscription budgets.

The rest have no idea how much they use their phones, which they also use for text messaging. Nearly 50 percent of the 1700 young people questioned admitted regularly exceeding their phone-deal budgets, with one-third saying they overspent by a large amount.

About 15 percent said they had absolutely no idea how much their mobiles cost them per month. Interestingly, 48 percent of the teenagers said their parents footed their whole mobile phone bill.

The survey is part of the youth education campaign "You're nowhere without cash" which is being launched today by Dutch Crown Princess Máxima. The campaign aims to help young people learn how to deal with their finances. It's reckoned mobile phones are one of the traps waiting to lure young people into financial difficulties.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide