At what age should kids be allowed to have phones

[eLdavis]

These days with the introduction of technology like smartphones and other gadgets, parents now use these gadgets as a means to pacify their kids, exposing them to the use of technology at a very young age. What age should kids be allowed to have their first phones?

 

[Sanjeev]

There is no specific age , when the kids be given the smartphone. I had a plan not to give smartphone to my kids before they complete high school but unfortunately I had to change the plan as during the corona pandemic when the school classes were all online I had to give them smartphone.

 

[Starmix]

My young nieces and nephews, ages 5 and 6, have a phone and a Netbook. They cry nonstop if disallowed from playing Mobile Legends . It was I who bought them netbooks, 4 netbooks.

 

[Kennysplash]

There is no definite age that applies for all kids. In my compound I see kids that are using mobile devices at the age of 6. But their parents have installed some form of parental control on the devices, so they are able to see everything that the kids are doing.
Sometimes it is necessary for kids to have their devices for communication purposes.

 

[KrissyCakes09]

I would say 13. Anything younger then that is just asking for trouble.

 

[uptrendfinancialsignal]

I believe it depends on the child and their level of understanding. Perhaps 12 or 13 is all right, especially when they need it to be safe or to go to school. But kids younger than that? I’d be cautious. The web is so porous and the cell phones can cause distractions.

 

[Ginger]

It's not easy to answer because these days kids need phone to even study or to research but we should impose a limit on their screen time and better to allow only after 10 years

 

[Mike30]

Well,
I tell my kids they will have a phone when they become 18. When they pay for it and are legally liable for their actions.

I tell them that I had my first phone when I was 20, I didn't know anything about computers and they can see how far I have gone.
So, they don't need a phone or free access to internet until they are 18.

 

[Sanjeev]

@Mike30 That's a good strategy. It's better that they focus on their academics and keep themselves fit by doing physical activities than spend time watching reels on social media, as I see kids here are more interested in watching short reels and can spend infinite hours when they have a smartphone and access to the internet. We need to get them free from it.

 

[Kennysplash]

Well,
I tell my kids they will have a phone when they become 18. When they pay for it and are legally liable for their actions.

I tell them that I had my first phone when I was 20, I didn't know anything about computers and they can see how far I have gone.
So, they don't need a phone or free access to internet until they are 18.

By 18 they should be in college? Would it be easy for you to communicate with them if they don’t have a mobile device? And then you know that during your own time there was not much technology, so it cannot really be compared to this present time.

 

[Mike30]

By 18 they should be in college? Would it be easy for you to communicate with them if they don’t have a mobile device? And then you know that during your own time there was not much technology, so it cannot really be compared to this present time.

We can communicate in person all what they want and they do. I know these present times are different, I am different too
If they need to make a call, yes I let them use my phone to make that call, but no, no phone of their own, much less freely internet access.

Maybe they don't have to wait exactly until 18, but they have to show responsible behavior before they have access to those powerful tools.

 

[Kaynil]

I guess it would depend on how things are. I do feel firm that they should be 13+ before I even consider it. I don't think a child has any business carrying a mobile phone unsupervised. I mostly would want them to have a reliable to contact me or call emergency services, specially if school is far or other similar circumstances and it'd probably be some prepaid model to add balance as you need it. Ideally, I'd buy them something midrange, so they get the hang of it and if they want something like the newest model then we can talk about ways to save and earn it, same if they want more than the most basic plan. Assuming that they have given me reason to trust them with it.