At what age should children be allowed to use electronics?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I think they should not be allowed access earlier than the age of 12, and even then should be supervised and never left alone. I got my first smartphone when I was 18, and it wasn't for a matter of money - it was because my aunt thought that was the right age to own one.

[OlderAndWiser]

Laptop or tablet seems to be indispensable for school and there are many educational opportunities accessible through the internet, but I would not want a child turning into a gamer nerd. And I would not want my child using a phone as their primary means of communicating with the rest of the world; there are far too many digital cripples today as a result of digital addiction.

[Jessica405]

I disagree. Both my brother and I were playing with computers as young kids. I do NOT mean playing games! I mean learning basic programming, 6502 machine code and assembler.

I was about 10 or 11. My brother was 7 or 8. The computers were my grandfathers ancient Atari 800 and 800XL from the 1970's, if I am correct.

The upshot is my brother is researching for his PhD. I have completed mine, and now have a well paid job.

[Apple1996]

As soon as possible. I'd never want my kids to be behind. Making them wait till 12 they'd never make any friends and would also be extremely behind their peers learning wise. Only parents that can get away with no technology now a days are the ones that are "unschooling" their kids.

[exitseven]

My kids were in first grade when we got our first computer, an IBM clone. They learned BASIC and batch files in grade school. This was before the internet. If I had kids today i would say 12 years old to play video games and send emails but I would not want them to be on social media until 16.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Guy13]

No smart phone for convenience and laptop does not leave the house….

[Andres77]

I agree with you.

on a side note: you seem to have a lot of time on your hands for being a Town Mayor.

😉

[lightbulb27]

no earlier than 15, most kids 25+.