When’s the right age for your kid’s first phone?

Just ordered the new Apple iPhone 16 Pro and thinking about handing down your old one to your teenager? Let's explore when the right time might be to gift them their first phone.

Is it time to buy your burgeoning teenager their first phone? Let’s take a look at when’s the right time for your child to access the wonderful world of mobile tech.

There comes a time in every parent’s life when their prepubescent starts adding a phone to their Christmas wish list. And no, not a hand me down brick from last century, a new, flashy phone. But when is the right time to get your kid a phone? Unsure? Well, let’s take a squiz together.

Over the last five years, the average age a kid receives their first mobile phone is between eight and 12. While these may not be the smartphones we know today and could be a smartphone alternative designed for just calls, texts and GPS it’s only a hop, skip and a jump away from the coveted smartphone. And as we know, smartphones mean Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and more.

Find out about the best first phone options for your tween.

So, what does that mean for your tween?

We tend to think of a blanketed age as the marker of when’s appropriate for a first phone, but the reality, according to Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist and anxiety expert at the Child Mind Institute, is whether or not your child is mature enough and aware enough to handle the technology properly. For instance, a naïve, immature 15-year-old who may act out on their phone may not be as ready as a 12-year-old who is emotionally mature enough to handle it.

We suggest thinking about the following before taking the plunge.

• Does your child have enough self-control to stay away from screens or limit screen interaction?
• How often has your child lost things of importance?
• Do they understand mobile technology including social media?
• Will they spend money on their phone given the chance?
• Do they understand social cues on messenger apps and text messaging?
  Consider the above and think about whether your kid’s answers to these questions indicate enough social, cultural and emotional maturity for a smartphone.

Alright, so you’ve talked about it with them and they’re fairly fluent with the technology and safety precautions, what should you do next?

Well, much like talking to them about TikTok or any other social media, you have to set some clear boundaries. We suggest something like these:

• You limit screen-time, so they don’t become addicted to the tech
• No mobile phones directly before bed
• Have a conversation about data and the consequences of exceeding that data
• What happens if the phone is lost or damaged, how will they replace it?
• Lastly, monitor which social media apps they are using the most and discuss in-depth cyberbullying and when to report dangerous content.

In the end it’s up to every family to decide when to give a child their first phone. We hope the information in this article will help you along the decision path.

Optus Digital Thumbprint

Optus Digital Thumbprint are free, curriculum-aligned workshops that teach young people to participate safely online, with the tools they need for positive, responsible and authentic experiences. Program delivery includes face-to-face workshops and teacher-led digital workshops.

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