At what age should a child be allowed a cell phone ?

The answer is 42.

I'm tempted to say "never", seeing how they turn the kids into zombies, hypnotized by that tiny screen. They are good to have in an emergency, but they are too addictive. Too many people, young and old, are spending their lives glued to their phones.

When they can buy it

Mine were 11…

When they went to high school.

When they can pay for it, when they can leave it at home and not have panic attacks

20 years ago I don’t think it’d matter. Back then the basics you could do with a phone is call, text, take pictures, and maybe play games. The real difference maker is that phones now come with access to the internet and the online world, which possess a lot more risk factors socially and psychologically. Honestly I don’t think the age matters as much as the parenting itself. I know a lotta kids (mostly boys) in small towns get taught how to shoot at a young age. There are even clubs and competitions without it creating much issue. Why? Because nobody just hands a kid a gun and says go have fun. They take the time to teach them proper handling and the responsibility that comes with it. The dangers. Safety and caution come first. But with phones it seems more and more parents are content with just giving it to them so freely just so they won’t have to actually parent and interact with their children. But I think if more parents thought about putting a phone in a kid or teens hands the same way they’d think about putting a gun in their hand or the keys to their car things would be different.

And for the record I wouldn’t keep them completely locked away from the internet either cause anyone who doesn’t live under a rock is gonna come to contact with it eventually. And I’d rather be the one to introduce my child to that rather than someone else. It’s one of those things where you can’t fully control the curiosity of a child but you can guide it by meeting in the middle of being strict without being too strict. Because all that does is program them to keep secrets from you and push away.

Fourth grade and they have to have good grades.

36

This is dependent on the child. There are teenagers that obviously can't handle it.

Any that are susceptible to self abuse, obviously shouldn't have a cellphone. And that happens all the time.

The social pressures, when there are mental issues, are too great even without one.

Age limits really don't work. Only parental evaluation has a chance of working. So if a minor is found to have problems with anything, the parent should not only figure it out, yet should be held responsible.

It's their child and they should know their children best. Or be held accountable. Because legally they are responsible for their children.

A cell phone for only texts and calls from confirmed people. Age 9-12.

A smart phone with child safety installation. Age 13-17

A smart phone they have full control of. Age 18.

it all depends on the child and parenting style.... i know some grown men/women that are well over 30 that probably be better off without a cell phone, just saying...LOL

103

Man this question is tricky......

I mean my nephew is four and he has been allowed access to his mum's phone since he was three... he also has his kid safe tablet but his mum restricts his time on it.

He is a social kid who has won an award at school for helping the other kids so his mum's arrangement has clearly worked.

Oh and he knows how to WhatsApp video call and me and my wife are his favourite Auntie and Uncle 😂

No one should have a phone. You really want to give up your privacy? Get it together man!

a jitterbug when they’re like 10 and a regular phone when they’re 16

When you feel they are responsible. Highschool age, maybe?

the way to keep them safe is to install a parental control app

not until they are at least 18 or over.

They’re so prevalent, I think good kids can handle one at 11-12. I think everyone has one by their freshman year in hs, so you might as well get the hang of it before then.

With rules of course.

I think age 7 is not too old for a child to have a very basic phone without internet. A child needs to be able to call his or her Mom or Dad if he or she gets into trouble, or gets lost.

70😂😂

When they can afford one themselves ..OR when the parents deem in necessary for them to have one to communicate with them..😷

I got mine at 16

18….go use a phone box…..or have mum listening to every word!

@Nimbus sixteen when they can pay for the thing and the credit nimby 😆

Now because I'm a helicopter parent.😂✌️

15, and they are responsible enough

When they pay for it themselves

Mine were 12

30

42 , Then you have no chance of been able to understand all the functions !

Not one minute before their 110th birthday.

Highschool age

I'm not a fan of before 16, but the local culture here seems to consider you backwards if your 12 year old doesn't have one.

College