At What Age Should Kids Get A Phone? Benefits And Drawbacks

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At what age should kids get a phone? The most common concern amongst most parents of the current era. A cell phone has become a necessity in current times. It offers several benefits, including a telephone, computer, alarm clock, television. And children know how to use it without even being taught. In addition, this device provides them unlimited access to cartoons, social media, and video games. But, no matter how tech-savvy, that does not mean they can own a mobile phone?

Here we talk about at what age a child should get a cell phone and the benefits and drawbacks of mobile phones, so you can decide whether or not your child is ready to have a phone.

What Age Should Children Get A Phone?

There are no governmental guidelines on when a child should get their smartphone as it is an individual family decision.

A report from Common Sense Media reveals that the percentage of teens aged 13-18 who possessed a smartphone in 2021 increased to nearly 88%, up from 84% in 2019. The report also notes a significant surge in smartphone ownership among 8 to 11-year-olds, although only a few have their own devices. Furthermore, ownership rates of smartphones among adolescents aged 14 to 18 were either at or above 90%, indicating a persistent trend of growing smartphone ownership among young people.

Smartphone ownership among US children based on age

The Pew Research Organization notes that the ideal age could be 12-14 years. Their survey reveals that 73% of parents find it acceptable for children to have a phone at 12 or older. Additionally, 45% believe smartphone ownership is suitable for ages 12 to 14, and 28% for ages 15 to 17. Only 22% of parents are okay with children under 12 having a phone.
Nevertheless, the ultimate decision to provide a phone before this age or beyond lies with the parent and depends on a child’s sense of responsibility, self-control, and maturity levels (1).

If the situation demands and you have to provide your child with a phone before the child is 12, prefer a basic phone with no or restricted internet connectivity or set child locks on inessential applications.

Experts say

Dr. Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, suggests parents consider their child’s social awareness and understanding of using technology apart from the age when planning to give a phone (13).

How Should Children Use Cell Phones As Per Their Age?

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It is impossible to steer children away from those shimmering cell phone screens in a world surrounded by advanced mobile technology. Nevertheless, you can control the activities on the device, and the time it is used for. The following age guide by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry could help you regulate your child’s phone usage (2).

• Ages two and below: Children of this age shouldn’t be given a phone. You may occasionally use it to connect with other family members and friends via video calls. For children above 18 months of age, you may show them a few educational videos under your supervision.

• Ages two to five: Children of these ages may start to recognize that phones can be used as entertainment platforms. Restrict such entertainment usage of phones under your supervision.

• Ages six to twelve: During this age, your child may start to understand the various platforms on the internet. By no means must you let your child have access to social media. The child’s critical skills are still developing at this age, and they are incapable of handling the negative effects that may come with it. You may allow your child to access other functions and watch educational videos. However, you should be monitoring the activities conducted on the phone, have screen-time limits, and exercise strict parental control on each application they use (3).

• Ages twelve and above: Most children around this age would have a developed prefrontal cortex that is responsible for good decision-making skills, involving moral values like honesty and trust. Hence, at this age, based on your child’s maturity level, you may advance to a partially supervised usage of a phone with limited internet access. However, social media usage, if any, should be carefully monitored. Despite the connectivity social media brings, it may also make a child vulnerable to cyber-bullying (4) (5).

Overall, to ensure the responsible use of cell phones, family rules should be in place to deal with excessive screen time. Despite the connectivity, the negative effect of social media on children is undeniable as it may also make a child vulnerable to online predators, compromise privacy, and raise cyber security and cyber-bullying issues.

What Are The Benefits Of Cell Phones For Children?

A child’s life with a phone is not entirely a train wreck. Access to these digital devices may give your child the following benefits (6).

• Safety tool: Most mobile devices these days are equipped with location trackers. This unfettered access to a child’s location is a relief to many parents and is also one reason that prompts a parent to purchase a phone for their child. It also benefits your child as they get to enjoy their freedom without compromising on their safety. They could also contact you in case of emergencies.

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• Technological guide: The future is all about technology. Optimal exposure to cell phones would help children keep up with the latest technologies, learn new skills, and find their stepping stone in the current internet-led times.

• Educational aid: The internet offers the advantages of online learning and educational resources by providing unlimited access to information, which contributes to improving digital literacy. With so many online study platforms, your child could resolve the queries arising during their homework time from an expert. They could also seek assistance on any subject matter within a matter of minutes. Another source of fun learning is educational online gaming that can be used to gain knowledge.

• Social assistance: Social media networks also provide a few benefits as they could be an ideal place for your child to stay connected with friends and family members. It is essential that the child stays in touch with only those they and you know in the real world through online communication. You could take the help of parental control apps to ensure your child doesn’t fall prey to cyber-bullying while they develop their friendships and improve their social skills.

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• Responsibility token: It is no lie that a phone is an investment, and hence your child must keep it safe. Since they may view the cell phone as a prized possession, you could use it as an opportunity to teach them independence and responsibility. You may also put them on the family plan and use their smartphone privileges to teach them about budgeting and controlling.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Children Having Cell Phones?

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As good as the benefits of using a cell phone may seem, the negative effects of mobile phones on kids should also be discussed. Excess usage of cell phones by children can be a source of distraction leading to several issues.

• Alteration of brain development: Excess usage of cell phones may result in premature thinning of the prefrontal cortex. Eventually, this thinning could decrease social and cognitive skills affecting their mental health and leading to anxiety and depression. A few studies also suggest that cell phone radiation could lead to brain tumors (7).

Point to consider

To minimize radiation exposure from mobile phones, instruct children to avoid making calls with a weak signal, consider texting when possible, use headphones, or put the phone on speaker mode to communicate (14).

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• Reduction of social skills: The more time a child spends on cell phones, the less time they may spend with their friends and family. They may also stop participating in extracurricular activities in schools and spend time on their phones instead, affecting their social and critical thinking skills (8).

• Exploration into the dark web: The other coin of the internet includes the world of the dark web. Any unrestricted recreational screen time could give them access to the dark internet that is filled with explicit content. In addition, it may lead to the development of unsuitable online relationships (8).

• Phone addiction: Dopamine is a rewarding hormone that is released after a favorite activity. Smartphones could serve as an easy source of dopamine. This easy supply means that a child may resort to using a phone for instant happiness, ultimately getting addicted to it. The technology addiction may also prevent them from participating in physical activities, pushing them towards a sedentary lifestyle (9) (10).

Alternatives To Smartphones

The balanced use of smartphones is the key. Some interesting alternatives to smartphones may include:

• Screenless cell phones: This allows you to stay connected with your child without the requirement of screen exposure.
• Audio players: Digital audio players can come in handy for the purpose of listening to music, podcasts, or audio stories.
• Ebook devices: These devices have screens that are quite different from the ones used in smartphones. They can be a fun way to introduce children to stories, language, and other educational content.
• Smart watches with GPS: The ones that come with no social media apps are more suitable for kids. These have parental control and can be easily strapped to your child’s wrist. They have functions such as tracking and calls.

Infographic: Benefits And Drawbacks Of Cell Phones For Children

In today’s digital age, where many activities rely on apps and mobile devices, keeping your child away from cell phones is nearly impossible. While there is much discussion about the disadvantages of mobile phones, there are also some advantages. The infographic below covers the pros and cons of cell phone usage for children.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: At What Age Should Kids Get A Phone? Benefits And Drawbacks

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Smartphones are changing the way our children and teens think and interact. Learn how these devices are affecting their brains in this informative video.

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Catherine MokSocial worker

Catherine Mok is a therapist at Austin Family Counseling. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, parents, individuals and families using a collaborative and client-centered approach tailored to the unique needs of each client.

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