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

[The Democratic Nation of Unovia]

My view is that by Highschool (About age 14), a student should get their first phone. They should be sat down with their parents to lay down the basic ground rules.

[Romanian-Slavia]

A Nokia or a Smartphone at 12-13

Smartphone

I agree

[Bluelight-R006]

Same. Except from 6-8 and I am still fine.

I'm sorry for ya

I always feel sorry for myself. I think that’s all the sorry I need.

[Romanian-Slavia]

My view is that by Highschool (About age 14), a student should get their first phone. They should be sat down with their parents to lay down the basic ground rules.

WTF? What do you mean?

[Romanian-Slavia]

I'm sorry for ya

I always feel sorry for myself. I think that’s all the sorry I need.

If so, I'll withdraw my sorry

[Bluelight-R006]

I always feel sorry for myself. I think that’s all the sorry I need.

If so, I'll withdraw my sorry

Go ahead.

I'll say between 12-13 years of age as long as parents teach them about the dangers of the internet and scam calls.

Another thing to consider. 12-13 years olds are still learning and are very much prone to being a victim of internet scams. I know that because I myself am one — I’ve always known that at this age, I’m still a foolish boy to fall into a trap :/

[Greater vakolicci haven]

If so, I'll withdraw my sorry

Go ahead.

I'll say between 12-13 years of age as long as parents teach them about the dangers of the internet and scam calls.

Another thing to consider. 12-13 years olds are still learning and are very much prone to being a victim of internet scams. I know that because I myself am one — I’ve always known that at this age, I’m still a foolish boy to fall into a trap :/

But have you?

[Romanian-Slavia]

If so, I'll withdraw my sorry

Go ahead.

Fine ))

I'll say between 12-13 years of age as long as parents teach them about the dangers of the internet and scam calls.

Another thing to consider. 12-13 years olds are still learning and are very much prone to being a victim of internet scams. I know that because I myself am one — I’ve always known that at this age, I’m still a foolish boy to fall into a trap :/

I don't think that is very hard to teach your child that if (s)he's seeing an ad he is not a millionaire or that is not ok to talk with strangers etc.

[Aaaaaa]

I propose all kids can have a phone as early as they want, but it has to be a 1940's field telephone you carry around on your back.

[Bluelight-R006]

Go ahead.

Another thing to consider. 12-13 years olds are still learning and are very much prone to being a victim of internet scams. I know that because I myself am one — I’ve always known that at this age, I’m still a foolish boy to fall into a trap :/

But have you?

Nope. There are some scams that are quite common that I know are fake... like, ‘You’ve won a free phone...’ but I’ve never been exposed to other scams.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

But have you?

Nope. There are some scams that are quite common that I know are fake... like, ‘You’ve won a free phone...’ but I’ve never been exposed to other scams.

I....actually have won a free phone in the past.

[Bluelight-R006]

Another thing to consider. 12-13 years olds are still learning and are very much prone to being a victim of internet scams. I know that because I myself am one — I’ve always known that at this age, I’m still a foolish boy to fall into a trap :/

I don't think that is very hard to teach your child that if (s)he's seeing an ad he is not a millionaire or that is not ok to talk with strangers etc.

Those are simple scams... but what if it’s scams with callers who can scam you the second you answer a call with them? Like charging you for that call... etc. I’ve fallen into that trap before but my parents taught me they were scams.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I propose all kids can have a phone as early as they want, but it has to be a 1940's field telephone you carry around on your back.

That is a great idea.

[Romanian-Slavia]

Nope. There are some scams that are quite common that I know are fake... like, ‘You’ve won a free phone...’ but I’ve never been exposed to other scams.

I....actually have won a free phone in the past.

An ad told me thta i'll win a 1 000 000 Euros, but i won a trojan

[Romanian-Slavia]

I don't think that is very hard to teach your child that if (s)he's seeing an ad he is not a millionaire or that is not ok to talk with strangers etc.

Those are simple scams... but what if it’s scams with callers who can scam you the second you answer a call with them? Like charging you for that call... etc. I’ve fallen into that trap before but my parents taught me they were scams.

Everyone can fall in that trap

[Greater vakolicci haven]

I....actually have won a free phone in the past.

An ad told me thta i'll win a 1 000 000 Euros, but i won a trojan

Did you try to sell the trojan? Some of them are quite valuable on the market, they are generally large, well-built and good at fighting. Plus, active service in the trojan army has made them good at following orders, and many have been raised with the idea of sacrifice for the greater good instilled in them. A trojan would make a very valuable slave.

[Aaaaaa]

I....actually have won a free phone in the past.

An ad told me thta i'll win a 1 000 000 Euros, but i won a trojan

Be happy you won something!

[Romanian-Slavia]

An ad told me thta i'll win a 1 000 000 Euros, but i won a trojan

Be happy you won something!

Yeah : ))))

[Romanian-Slavia]

An ad told me thta i'll win a 1 000 000 Euros, but i won a trojan

Did you try to sell the trojan? Some of them are quite valuable on the market, they are generally large, well-built and good at fighting. Plus, active service in the trojan army has made them good at following orders, and many have been raised with the idea of sacrifice for the greater good instilled in them. A trojan would make a very valuable slave.

In this case I was the slave

[Valehart]

Anything less than or near pre-pubescent age. It kinda urks me whenever I see toddlers watch these lame YouTubers on their iPads with their thick plastic iPad cases, why would you want them an iPhone I don’t know

[Romanian-Slavia]

Anything less than or near pre-pubescent age. It kinda urks me whenever I see toddlers watch these lame YouTubers on their iPads with their thick plastic iPad cases

Let them watch lame youtubers, lol, even they're really CRINGE, actually is part of actual generation's childhood, you can't change that

[Melondonia]

Being a teenager, maybe I'm not the best person to ask regarding parenting advice, but here's my story with getting a phone at an early age.

I was actually forced to have a smartphone while I was still in Middle School. My parents wanted to be able to check up with me any time, for a plethora of reasons. Whether they were working late, or asking me to do chores while they were out, or telling whether I could set-up or cancel an appointment with a friend. First I got a hand-me-down, but it was so old and slow that it could only run a handful of games (yeah, other kids might've been interested in searching up naughty things - I would rather play my bakery simulator game), and the only people I would ever text using my phone were my parents. Eventually, however, I won a smartphone in Mathematics competition. No, really.

Let me tell you, that was more of a curse than a blessing. I've always had a bit of an addictive personality and having a smartphone only gave me more freedom than was probably responsible. My grades fell somewhat - partially due to the fact I lived in a different country at the time, but more so because I was more prone to procrastinating, and would often stay up late finishing my assignments since I had wasted the day playing games on my phone. I pulled a lot more all-nighters than acceptable for a jr. high student (which, honestly, is zero) to study for exams since my phone would often pull me from my studies. Since, then, I think I've gotten a little better with technology usage - I still use my phone relatively often, but now it's just to listen to music while I study, exercise or do the dishes. My grades have also gone back up to about a 97% average. Good thing I went through my phone-addicted phase in middle school, I suppose - it would be worse if owning one caused me to screw up my high school average.

But now I've gone off on a tangent! Let me go back to answering the original question. I would probably suggest giving your teen a phone when they start high school - not middle school - or if they've proven they're mature - for example, by doing well in their studies while maintaining a part-time job for at least half a year (some jobs might actually require a student to have a phone, anyway).

tl;dr: When they start high school (14-16) or otherwise prove their maturity (having a part-time job in middle school).

[Heloin]

As soon as they're born. We can even set up the toddlers with there own special social media site called Babo.

[Free Arabian Nation]

*Shrug* Depends on how mature they are, and it's pretty dumb to measure maturity by age (when we're talking about responsibilities and privileges like phones. I am not advocating giving children access to nukes because they're very mature or something like that). Hell, I've seen plenty of grown-ass adults who aren't mature enough to own a phone. The opposite is also true: I have seen plenty of children who are mature enough to own a phone. It all comes down to the individual imo.

[Scomagia]

14 or 15 and only conditionally. The need for kids to have cell phones is drastically overstated. The "in case of emergencies" thing is mostly bullshit since first world kids are rarely going to find themselves in an emergency where an adult isn't already nearby. Also, kids need a sense of independence and responsibility which are diminished by having mommy and daddy only a phone call away.

Above all, though, they shouldn't have access to their cell phones at home, especially during dinner or other family activities.