What age should children/teens be given their first phones?

[Scomagia]

Define "outlier". Depression and suicide in teens has risen noticeably since the proliferation of social media. It isn't a mere fringe issue. Don't lie.

It's disrespectful to divert your attention from people you are actually talking to in order to fuck off on your phone. And honestly, your dad...yeah, nevermind.

And no, it wouldn't create socially isolated kids. Don't lie.

How does depriving your child of the ability to communicate with friends, something that other kids take for granted, not lead to social isolation? They'll miss out on so much interaction, they won't be able to make plans, they'll be that kid that might be great to hang out with but you can never get in contact with; kids have pretty short attention spans, soon friends will move on and the opurtunity is lost. Or you could just give them a phone, at the tiny risk they'll be one of the few kids who developed depression or anxiety as a result of using social media, something which could be fixed by encouraging them to be open with you about any bullying they face and actually taking an interest in what is going on in their lives.

This post is so full of straw, I'm not even going to give it a proper response.

[Aaaaaa]

A quick look at the increasing rates of psychological distress from overuse of social media should make the first condition pretty obvious.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source= ... 9372687869

Yes, kids shouldn't be dicking around on their phones when their actual family is physically in their presence at a time for familial interaction.

psychological distress are outlying cases, the vast majority of kids use social media in order to communicate with friends...what it's for, in fact.

The second point is odd, even when I got my first phone, if it beeped I wanted to know why it beeped; unless I'm somewhere I can't (in a meeting, at a cinema, in a lecture) I still do that. So does my Dad, it's natural to want to know who wants to get in touch with you. Your ideas would create socialy isolated kids.

SOCIALLY ISOLATED KIDS??? For Chissakes mate we've had mobile phones for FORTY YEARS

[Greater vakolicci haven]

The post you enitially replied to stated that giving kids the ability to contact 911 would create weak and over-dependant children (which it wouldn't.) You are also so scared of your kids being part of the tiny minority that develops depression from social media use that you wish to protect them from that major aspect of life, social media: therefore making them weaker when they finally do get internet access and thus less able to cope with it.

Sugar, can you point to where I said they shouldn't be able to use social media? No? Yeah, that's because I didn't say that or anything like it.

So your reasoning to not give a kid a phone before age 15 is what? Too much weight to carry around? The fact you went on with the social media causes brain decay bullshit is proof enough.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

psychological distress are outlying cases, the vast majority of kids use social media in order to communicate with friends...what it's for, in fact.

The second point is odd, even when I got my first phone, if it beeped I wanted to know why it beeped; unless I'm somewhere I can't (in a meeting, at a cinema, in a lecture) I still do that. So does my Dad, it's natural to want to know who wants to get in touch with you. Your ideas would create socialy isolated kids.

SOCIALLY ISOLATED KIDS??? For Chissakes mate we've had mobile phones for FORTY YEARS

For the majority of that time, it was not normal for every kid to own a mobile phone. It is now.

[Ghost Land]

I'd say when they can afford one, so in most cases no younger than 16. I'd be more likely to give a younger offspring a regular cell phone without Internet rather than a smartphone, though. Part of this may just be my own technophobia, but there are still telephones in a lot of school classrooms, the whole "emergency situation" thing where there's no adult around for miles is pretty darn rare in first-world countries, and it's easy to become addicted to those screens, especially if one has a naturally addictive personality anyway. One can find entertainment just as easily via playing card or board games, socializing with family and friends, or partaking in a hobby. Now I see people completely absorbed in their smartphones left and right, completely dissociated from the world around them, and there are kids as young as 15 who don't just have their smartphones that they're always on as well, but smartwatches (which I still don't get, but that's beside the point) and a whole bunch of other technology devices.

OP, how old are you now that you got your first cell phone at the age of THREE?

Also, this, almost in its entirety:

Coming back, I'm surprised by the number of answers that give an age in the teens. By 6th grade, most kids have phones (at least where I am). I think that most kids should get a phone in elementary school. What's the reasoning for those answers?

Elementary? You pulling my leg mate?

I'm honestly surprised that many of the answers are into the teens too, but I was expecting them to be in the 16-18 or >18 range. I just cannot understand the need for these kids to have these phones. I'm 21 and I don't even have one. I've seen first hand what phone addiction does to someone I know very well and how drastically one's behavior can change when there's no limit to how much usage these things get. Not to mention how exacerbated it becomes when these little shits are talking smack about eachother on Instragram and Snapchat, but I admit that's more of a question of which head to cut off, so to speak. I know I'm sounding like a cranky old man but this is just my personal experience with these things. Personally I say just get your kids a laptop or computer or something they can only use at home. Hell, the laptop I'm typing on is 18 years old and it works fine.. more or less.

If I ever have kids they can get a phone once they've made enough through their own income to afford one, or if they can demonstrate that they can save up on allowance without blowing it on stupid shit, and even then there's an age limit of around 16 or 17.

[Aaaaaa]

SOCIALLY ISOLATED KIDS??? For Chissakes mate we've had mobile phones for FORTY YEARS

For the majority of that time, it was not normal for every kid to own a mobile phone. It is now.

Well I think you've figured out the problem then, my man - If kids need phones to stop their social isolation then what are the phones but the root cause? They don't need to be making duck faces every moment on Snapgram & Intsachat eh

[Greater vakolicci haven]

For the majority of that time, it was not normal for every kid to own a mobile phone. It is now.

Well I think you've figured out the problem then, my man - If kids need phones to stop their social isolation then what are the phones but the root cause? They don't need to be making duck faces every moment on Snapgram & Intsachat eh

One kid isn't going to change the whole trend, nor I feel is anything else. Until societies attitude to kids going outside changes then smartphones are the best way of communicating with friends, as they often can't meet face to face outside of school.

[Aaaaaa]

Well I think you've figured out the problem then, my man - If kids need phones to stop their social isolation then what are the phones but the root cause? They don't need to be making duck faces every moment on Snapgram & Intsachat eh

One kid isn't going to change the whole trend, nor I feel is anything else. Until societies attitude to kids going outside changes

I wish you weren't right but I can't argue there, this pedo craze has really dampened parent's trust in letting their kids walk alone.

then smartphones are the best way of communicating with friends, as they often can't meet face to face outside of school.

This on the other hand.. how far away were you from your school? I could meet up with my buddies virtually any time we wanted (within reason of course) and we all lived very close to the school. Pretty much everybody did. Maybe it's a locale thing.

[Major-Tom]

Whenever they see fit, I suppose, though I do often cringe at parents who hand their seven year old a smart phone. I had no use for a phone until late middle school, for instance, and even then it was just a flip phone that worked beautifully. But, it's up to the parents to decide whether or not they spoil the fuck out of their kid.

[Bluelight-R006]

l
OP, how old are you now that you got your first cell phone at the age of THREE?

I’m 13 now. And like I said, I never started playing my phone everywhere I go. At 3, the phone I had was a Nokia phone and all I remembered doing with is hiding it at the back of a toy car.

Whenever they see fit, I suppose, though I do often cringe at parents who hand their seven year old a smart phone. I had no use for a phone until late middle school, for instance, and even then it was just a flip phone that worked beautifully. But, it's up to the parents to decide whether or not they spoil the fuck out of their kid.

I think the reason why parents give their children smartphones instead of the old-fashioned flip phones is because they do not think that a flip phone is ‘good enough’ for the child. Students as young as Grade 3 have smartphones and if one of them gets a flip phone, they might feel left out. Plus, maybe the parents believe it’s easier to use a smartphone that a flip phone.

[Rojava Free State]

Are we finally having a wholesome, non political family friendly discussion on this site? Wow, guys I'm proud

[Kowani]

Are we finally having a wholesome, non political family friendly discussion on this site? Wow, guys I'm proud

Yeah, that’s what’s happening here.

[Country of CityTowne]

Kids shouldn't have phones at all, at it does is make them oversensitive entitled Karens. They become spoiled and expect bigger and bigger things. "I want the newest X-Y-Z Box Deluxe ++ Limited!!1!" "I want the IPhone 2819859185901!!!!1!" It distracts them from what's ACTUALLY important for someone their age, education. There are TWO YEAR OLDS with phones that they likely break within the day.

[Dylar]

I think that kids should be given their first phones at the age of 10. The reason is that in intermediate school and middle school some kids usuly join an afterschool club and it would make communication with their parents easier. However, I don't think they should have smartphones until they can pay for data.

[Abarri]

I think that kids should be given their first phones at the age of 10. The reason is that in intermediate school and middle school some kids usuly join an afterschool club and it would make communication with their parents easier. However, I don't think they should have smartphones until they can pay for data.

That is an interesting condition.

[Grinning Dragon]

Somewhere around the age of 50.

[Bluelight-R006]

Kids shouldn't have phones at all, at it does is make them oversensitive entitled Karens. They become spoiled and expect bigger and bigger things. "I want the newest X-Y-Z Box Deluxe ++ Limited!!1!" "I want the IPhone 2819859185901!!!!1!" It distracts them from what's ACTUALLY important for someone their age, education. There are TWO YEAR OLDS with phones that they likely break within the day.

1. I don’t know about you, but in my area the kids don’t really care about their phone model. Neither do I. To fight back, parents can promise to buy their kids a new phone when they get a certain grade by studying hard. Of course, not every time. Maybe the major exams.

2. Who on Earth would be so dumb to give a 2 year old a phone?

[Highever]

Probably give them some sort of phone by highschool or even middle school so that they can contact their parents and such.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

If I were a parent, I’d give my hypothetical spawn a smartphone when they get into junior high school. Around 13 years old. It’s an age in which I think most pre-teens and teens have learned a little sense of responsibility. I’d, of course, monitor their usage and control who they can call which would only be family and approved friends.

[-Brockton Bay-]

13-15 sounds like a good age to me. It's when kids really start becoming responsible enough to be left on their own for a few hours at a time without blowing everything up; why not help promote the growth of that by making them responsible for keeping their phone in good condition, too?

[New haven america]

Before birth.

[HumanSanity]

One can find entertainment just as easily via playing card or board games, socializing with family, or partaking in a hobby. Now I see people completely absorbed in their smartphones left and right, completely dissociated from the world around them, and there are kids as young as 15 who don't just have their smartphones that they're always on as well, but smartwatches (which I still don't get, but that's beside the point) and a whole bunch of other technology devices.

I just don't buy this arg anymore. I think it relies on false virtue signaling...

What's so great about being associated with the world around me?

Sometimes it's awesome - I have friends I love to hang out with. I like to go for walks and experience sunshine and daydream as much as anyone. Oftentimes, that stuff is *more* fun than whatever is on my phone. That's why I try to do those things (my hobbies/interests, if you will) as often as possible.

But also, let's be honest here, sometimes life gets boring. Sometimes you're in awkward situations, or you're with people you don't really like, or there's no new book you want to read and all your friends are busy. Or you just need something to do while you're on the toilet. Or you're texting a friend who lives across the country, or to make plans for later tonight.

There's nothing intrinsically valuable about "being associated with the world around me". The fact that phrase lacks a precise definition proves that it's just an empty concept of "valuable and good and not-technology", used to justify technophobia, and fear of social change that comes with technology.

tl;dr - arbitrary normative judgements = bye.

[Bluelight-R006]

One can find entertainment just as easily via playing card or board games, socializing with family, or partaking in a hobby. Now I see people completely absorbed in their smartphones left and right, completely dissociated from the world around them, and there are kids as young as 15 who don't just have their smartphones that they're always on as well, but smartwatches (which I still don't get, but that's beside the point) and a whole bunch of other technology devices.

I just don't buy this arg anymore. I think it relies on false virtue signaling...

What's so great about being associated with the world around me?

Sometimes it's awesome - I have friends I love to hang out with. I like to go for walks and experience sunshine and daydream as much as anyone. Oftentimes, that stuff is *more* fun than whatever is on my phone. That's why I try to do those things (my hobbies/interests, if you will) as often as possible.

But also, let's be honest here, sometimes life gets boring. Sometimes you're in awkward situations, or you're with people you don't really like, or there's no new book you want to read and all your friends are busy. Or you just need something to do while you're on the toilet. Or you're texting a friend who lives across the country, or to make plans for later tonight.

There's nothing intrinsically valuable about "being associated with the world around me". The fact that phrase lacks a precise definition proves that it's just an empty concept of "valuable and good and not-technology", used to justify technophobia, and fear of social change that comes with technology.

tl;dr - arbitrary normative judgements = bye.

I think he’s talking about the people who literally play the phone for hours Everyday with no signs of communicating by speaking to others.

I’ll admit, the phone is sometimes more interesting than real life, but vice versa as well.

Someone once told me that some people lose skills of communicating with others through the mouth because they’re used to typing out their feelings through text. That can be true, I felt it.

Sometimes it’s essential to talk to others with our mouths face to face instead of through text, not because we have a fear of technology, but because we need to develop social skills that involves talking face to face with others.

As always, though, it’s good to have a balance between both.

We’re getting a little off topic, so let’s shift back to what age we think children/teens should be given their phones.

[Parhe]

Not a parent, but I believe six or seven is a good age, maybe five as well. That is about the age they likely start spending a lot of time away from home, thanks to school. If they are lost or in some emergency, they could use the phone to call guardians. The main issue is a child accidentally making expensive calls or unnecessary calls to emergency numbers, but most kids I've met who are in grade school seem smart enough to avoid doing either if specifically told not to by an authority figure they trust.

[Thepeopl]

In the Netherlands, we have a very extensive wifi network. So in the Netherlands it is not necessary to have very expensive subscriptions. My teen (14) has had a phone since entering middle school (at age 10).
He has a prepaid, which he pays for himself, from his pocket money. He pays 10 euros a year.

When "Pokemon go" started, my then 8 year old wanted to play. So we bought her a smart phone, again prepaid.
She also has to finance her own phone, and she couldn't play Pokemon unless an adult accompanied her with a "wifi hotspot phone"
She pays 5 euro a year.

We try to have an open conversation with our children, and do monitor their screen time and surfing history. We ask what they think of what they have seen etc.

The phones are mostly used as a lifeline to friends and family, game platform, clock and as pa, to remind them when something will happen.

My 3 year old can only watch on the internet when we are present, and she can play games on my phone but only with off line games.
Since phone are nowadays so much more than just phones. I would say look at your lifestyle, look at your kid; is it mature for its age or not, do not give them 24/7 access to the internet. Keep an open mind, ask them what they watch, what they think and make sure they know they can always ask you anything without judgement. Be honest. The physical age is not that important, the mental age is. My 16 year old does not have a phone since he has the mental capacity of a 4 year old.