What's the right age for a kid to have a phone?

Question

Apple1996 · Accepted Answer

Probably around 9-10. My kiddos are 6 and 4 right now and are able to make FaceTime calls on their ipads but I'm planning on getting them a actual phone here in the next few years

Agape93 · Accepted Answer

8 and older

meetkitty123 · Answer

I believe it is more about necessity over age. I got my young son a basic phone when It's father started a custody battle with me. 1st his father wouldn't let my son call me and 2nd there was threats about him wanting to take off with my son... So the phone came in handy as a gps tracker just in case... My son kept the phone hidden. Then when Covid hit the children 8 and 11 needed smartphones with internet on the go for homeschooling (sometimes our wifi company would crash due to so many people online) my son especially. His father would take him to work with him during school hours and my son had to way to connect to his classroom without the smartphone.
Anyhow I downloaded apps to help keep track of them and I have their passwords to everything. I do random phone checks whenever I want. They know the drill I will come to them randomly at any given moment stick my hand out and say give me the phone and they know that if they don't hand it in at that exact second that they will lose their phone. This is our agreement. There is no wait or whining or closing out whatever they were on. They are to place it in my hands immediately! I have their unlock screen passwords and their messages and emails are forwarded to my devices. I also keep a tracker in their phones... It's a matter of setting rules and time limits. Now that Covid is no longer keeping them home the phones still come in handy. One time one child was being bullied on the bus since I have an app on their phone which records phone calls I got on record the bullying. Another time the buses didn't arrive at school and the teachers were being hush hush about it... Because they feared the drivers had done a walk off and they didn't want to raise a panic as the bus company tried to fix it without it being known and well I found out through my daughter... so I was able to let other parents know... Ya they fixed the issue faster once parents started calling in.
It's certainly has come in handy to have access to my kids all day long... I can even tell when they are slacking in school... I receive notices and can see the school chat messages/emails they might send to their friend's in class... If it's not school class related I intervene and tell my kids and their friends to get back to class work... Unless they want me sending a text to their teachers... Lol 🤣... And even after all this my kids friends still think me the cool mom 😎 they know I mean well and care about them too as if they were mine.

Ninaface · Answer

16
I didn't have a phone until I was 18, but I had tablets or a laptop for a few years from 14 on. It did me no good, and was of no benefit to me. The thing that damaged me most was access to the internet. I used to be kind, creative, intelligent, read and draw and write all the time. Now I struggle to read anything and I'm emotionally corrupt.
Let kids be kids. Having a child receive a phone before 13 is... its lazy parenting. And neglectful. Go ahead and downvote, but you know its true. Kids should be outside playing, or reading, or running around and playing hide and seek or make believe with dolls or siblings or friends. With a phone, they don't do that. Instead they're exposed to explicit or toxic content, pornagraphy, preditors, and at a loss of a healthy childhood. The only "benefit" is their parents don't have to deal with them.
If you need to know where your kid is 24/7 every second of the day, there are phones with trackers that you can adjust to only allow to call you, and the police. (Though I believe you can program others also)
In middle school I remember being jealous of the other kids with phones, outcasted. But in truth I only felt like that because the other kids were much more mature, and much less sheltered. It was a blessing that I now appreciate, as will other kids.

humpbackjack · Answer

It’s should depend on the kid how responsible they are, on how often they are in situations where they need one such as after school activities or going to places like the movies or the mall or the beach wherever, and if the child has to be home alone or walk home or take public transportation. It should be more of a necessity than a cool gadget. I’d say would say 12 is about the earliest and that would only be out of necessity and they’d have limited talk and text and very limited internet where the parents have complete control over what they can do or see on the internet. But then there was both my wife and I to deal with activities and one of us was always with my kids when the weren’t in school or with family. If someone’s situation is different then they’ll have a different answer that was right for them. Phones were a constant issue in my home while raising my girls they were constantly trying to fudge this rule or sneak past that rule. Then the texting competitions my two oldest would have to see who could do the most texts in a month or text the fastest was crazy at one point I was paying over $500 a month in cellphone bills it was more than my car payment. That’s when I finally stepped in and took charge of phone rules. Before this I worked a insane amount of hours and my wife did the home stuff and really my wife gave me a harder time then my girls about the changes and the changes only were given to my daughter’s yeah screw that 18 is a good age or when they get a job and pay for it themselves. Just playing kinda

LEETSBEREAL · Answer

I would say 8 years old but give them a black and white phone with limited features they only need to be able to call and text mum and dad in emergencies at that age. When they move onto Secondary School (age varies depending on Country) then they can have a color phone with all the features but I feel like there needs to be communication up until the point they get the phone so they know the dangers and are able to keep themselves safe, as well of course the parents blocks. I don't see why they need a high tech phone at 8 years old if they lose it or it gets stolen this will be a traumatic exp. and I haven't even began talking about what's on the phone itself.

TsundereMatrix · Answer

I got my first cellphone at age 14 so my parents can contact me. That’s also the same year I got me learners license to drive so if I ever had car trouble I could call my dad since we lived in the middle of nowhere. My cellphone plan limited me to only 5 contacts for unlimited texts and calls. Calling any number other than those 5 would result in charges added to my bill. Two had to be my parents and then I was allowed to add 3 friends.
My younger cousins all got a phone at age 8-10 which I felt like was a bit too young. But they also lived in the nearby town and didn’t drive, they walked everywhere so I guess it was for similar reasons as why I got a cellphone.

Nomina · Answer

I'm not giving my kids a smartphone phone until 15-16. Here we have what we call "Allo, Allo" phones. You can only call and send SMSs. But no access to the internet.
And before giving them a smartphone, I would make sure to explain to them the many benefits and the many drawbacks and dangers.

There's empirical evidence that too much access to social media isn't all that beneficial for teens. I don't want my child (ren) to deal with increased chances of depression because of a warped view of the world, online. Interestingly, quite a few social media guys don't let their kids have access to it too early.

AverageGuy9037 · Answer

About 12 should be right. Parents don't realise this but kids without phones around that age will only be able to watch their friends playing together while they are alienated.

I mean that age isn't right for a kid to have the trend, most expensive phones, but a basic android should be good. That way, they can be introduced to technology at a young age and gradually learn things which might be of use later on, such as programming and googling stuffs. Dictionaries are pretty useful as well.

cryscrys1 · Answer

I got mine when I was 16! And even then it was limited like a limited messages etc
I suggest 18+
But below 18 they need to carry a cell phone too times we are living are bad if they need to call 911, emergency anything is possible so you might give kids -18 a phone that has limits , like to call only 911, parents some friends

BCA6010 · Answer

A barebones flip phone if for whatever reason you believe that they need to be able to reach you (or vice versa), at whatever age they're in that situation. I wouldn't think less of a parent who put restrictions on the phone to limit its functionality to only be able to call certain numbers too.

If they want a smartphone, they can get a job in high school and pay for the upgrade themselves. These things, and more importantly the apps kids waste their life with are a cancer to society.

BlackTealLazer · Answer

Apparently 12 years old, but no age after that.
I had a phone for 3 months at 12. It was an utter piece of cr*p, and my parents promised they'd get me a better one. I was responsible and didn't have all the people in the world to talk to, so I limited my time quite maturely. Well, they gave my phone to my brother after he broke his and I never got another one.

That's my take on phones, age-wise.

Idkanything55528 · Answer

Personally my child will only have a phone to get ahold of me/family/friends. Social media has been the worst for society & children dont even want to play outside anymore as theyd rather play on their phones or xbox. And I dont think I'd let my child have social media until a certain age. ESPECIALLY snapchat! But that's just me.

virtue2332 · Answer

It's not the phone that's the issue. You should want them to have a way to get a hold of you. Technology isn't going away and delaying them understanding how to navigate with technology is going to hurt them in the long run. That being said you have to protect them and teach them how to use this technology responsibly. Handing them an unfiltered unprotected phone and letting them have the freedom to explore at thier whim is not the way to go

penneva581 · Answer

Depends on your lifestyle. If they don't need it to communicate with you I would say 13-15. Ik your kids are gonna hate me for this one but do be careful what they're doing online. You'd be surprised how much pornographic content children are exposed to

Screenwriter · Answer

By the time kids are able to be out and about on their own or at sleepovers, it's a good idea for them to have a simple phone that calls parents, grandparents, 911 and friends.

Around age 10 or 11 seems fine for a basic phone. I'd want them to have access to child-safe media sites on their phones, but for the phone to have restricted access to general media sites.

19magic · Answer

I had my phone at 6 my dad put his number on the tag inside of the puppet he brought me so that I could call him whenever things got too bad with my mother he also got me to memorize it just in case she found the number in the puppet. He still has that number now and I still have the puppet.

But I'd do something similar give a phone out at 6-8 and probably for the 11th bday I'll give her a smartphone for highschool.

NathanDavis · Answer

we went with 8 years old because it was an absolute need to do it, but there was constant supervision, from both parents, grandma and myself as an uncle... and even then, there were some issues... but those issues were talked about, discussed and resolved as well... nowadays there's a lot less supervision, but there's still some restrictions in place

Anonymous · Answer

I got mine at around 16-17 i am 22 today my little brother got his at 8 though its a whole “new generation” I understand but they need restrictions. We even caught that little mf talking to strangers who were asking him very personal questions on his playstation luckily my brother is a troll and he was giving out fake info and writing “deez nuts” for old creeps lmao💀 Point is i told my mom they need to control his electronic devices mind you he is 12 now and he has a nintendo switch, phone, ipad, laptop, and a playstation. Which is crazy to me😂

ThatNoUVAtYourEyes · Answer

A phone, mobile, to be able to call parents or 911, probably as early as they get left alone.
A smartphone to get poisoned by social media - most adults of today suffer the damage to their mental health from it, so I'd say never.
Any study apps/encyclopedias - whenever.

Dinklex3 · Answer

Kindergarten... whenever they're able to go to school.  The type of phone though varies. I wouldn't give them a smart phone until middle school. High end smart phone will be high school.

Shizunk · Answer

Never. When they convince me they are not a child anymore they can have a phone. But that stuff is seriously bad for children.

molonski2 · Answer

Id hand it to the kid at birth , with snapchat loaded they should be able to have some great pictures for their 21 st birthday , Id also load the best stock broking app so theyd be well versed with trading in the first decade :)

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think maybe age 7 or 8 but they should not be allowed to add people outside family until they are at least 12-14.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

When the parents have enough time to monitor/teach their kid.  Often, parents use technology as a babysitting tool.

Paris13 · Answer

12-13. Or if They are Mature, Younger. xx

CasstheLass · Answer

As soon as they’re born! Just kidding lol, but I think around 12 or so, they’ll be in situations where they need one or have to call someone. Plus they’ll want to socialize with friends too.

supercutebutt · Answer

Normal children should get a phone at age 12 and ginger children should be made to wait until 16.

Wester1967 · Answer

If we’re totally honest. Never. Not even adults should be allowed phones

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Whenever it's necessary. Kids have sports, staying at a friends house, walking home from school, etc

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

A lot depends on the child, for us it was 9 if I remember right. mainly as she was at boarding school (public school UK, Private US lol). it just made keeping in touch easier.

Starman5 · Answer

15 is an appropriate age. but the phone received should not be the best quality. there must be some low models. and use for a long time. For example, I had my first phone at the age of 15. and this phone was low in features and i used it for 5 years. I have a new phone now.

CaliSixx · Answer

I got my first when I was 8. Though it was my mom's old Motorola Razr because she only wanted me to have it for communication purposes. I wasn't allowed on the internet until I was 13

TacosRAwesome · Answer

If they're old enough to walk home alone they're old enough to get a phone.

420Rachel · Answer

I think I would get my child a phone around 13-14 years old. HEAVILY RESTRICTED THOUGH!!! We all know what young teenagers do on the phones, we were all teenagers at one point. 😐

abby17dmv · Answer

I think that the correct age depends but what matters is that they are watched whenever on a phone and only given to watch videos appropriate to there age.

musicloverr8 · Answer

I would want my kid to have a phone for safety reasons I think if I wanted to get ahold of them or track them or something but generally I would say an age where they spend less time with the parents like maybe 12?

josephinelcajon · Answer

Day 1 play phone. Maybe age 6 a restricted call/use phone. (Disney tried to sell these it had three buttons mom/dad/911) By 12 they should have much more freedom.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Whenever they want. There gonna use a phone for rest of there life anyway. And they have a personal choice to not use it or use it.

m33lad · Answer

18! At least or else they’re goanna be Fked up and dysfunctional. Look at Tiktok!

Creepy young half naked teens jumping up and down.
I’m sure they’ll watch porn or any other garbage they’ll destroy their brains.

roy_ricky09 · Answer

Seeting people these days.. NO. I'm against the Smartphones... Every minute on social media is like a disease.
Recently this FB/Whatsapp/Insta outage happened, people were like their life has ended. !!!

Anonymous · Answer

When they’re teenagers, a phone is a need, really. I know this from personal experience. They need to connect with friends (yes, that’s a need. You’re depriving them from up-to-date socializing, and that’s seriously important. This isn’t the Stone Age.) There will also come many situations in tour teens life where they HAVE to contact someone, their safety is in jeopardy or they’re scared

Adam1978 · Answer

When they are old enough to go home to friends on their own. Ie have the freedom to head home to them instead of going home.

Z1pTD · Answer

Depends on how responsible they are. maybe 10-13? I got mine at 16, technically. I actually had a phone starting at 13 that I bought with money from dog walks because I was tired of waiting. Just know that it's hard to outsmart kids.

Totesperf · Answer

When they're able to pay for it and any bills that come with it.

It's a great lesson on the value of an item.

My first phone I owned, I bought.

Now, I was able to USE a phone prior to that, but it was lent to me by Family.

Laura456 · Answer

probably 18, just because they need to learn the risks, benefits, purpose of having a phone and the consequences of misusing it

hailiegirl12 · Answer

I got my first phone on my 10th birthday so I will probably give my kids a phone on their 10th birthday

tatianamay · Answer

I got a smart phone when I was 10 😬 and I got my iPad when I was 8 lmao

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

I don’t know, I got my first phone at 11 so I guess I’ll give my kid one around the same age

BillieJean1070 · Answer

Not a bridge I've had to cross but I'd say around 10 or 11 depending on their level of responsibility.

MCheetah · Answer

Age 10, as long as it has internet safety locks on it.

rosemilk · Answer

When they’re away from me for hours daily because of school

Titli1995 · Answer

It can't be measured by his/her age. It's depends upon maturity I think.

coolguyaesthetic · Answer

Going into teen years, the negativity in the internet not rlly good for children and especially social media.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Whenever having one is useful and they are able to operate it properly.

Nik1hil · Answer

+16.. Before that keep things to a family laptop..

Fearlessegale · Answer

Depends on what you or and the kid to be under you can buy a tracphone for starters and have them value the lessons of saving minutes while using it.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

I’d say middle school at the very earliest. And they sure as hell don’t need a smartphone.

RHK36 · Answer

When they actually need a phone and it shouldn't be a smartphone.

Andres77 · Answer

We did it at 10 because that was the age we started letting our kids sleepover at friend's houses.

Sidfawy · Answer

Age can read and write Age can understand Age that he/she is clever No specific age for all if but can start in 12

TallAnon · Answer

I think it really depends on their life. For example, how they get to school. It's a way for them to call for help first of all.

What's the right age for a kid to have a phone?

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How old should a child be in order to own a cellular phone?

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How old should a child be in order to own a cellular phone?

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