Am I wrong for not wanting my teenagers to have smartphones?

Question

I told my SO I don't want our kids to have smartphones. I think it's extremely unnecessary. I said they can have a standard phone to text and call friends on, and a laptop or computer in their bedroom for schoolwork/social media/whatever. I'd only ever snoop through these devices if they gave me a reasonable cause to. 
-
He says they need smartphones. He gave examples such as using it for flashlight, watching YouTube videos to find out how to do something, and a calculator.
-
I argued back that regular phones have calculators and they can use their laptop/desktop computer to watch a YouTube video.
-
Having been a teenager myself not very long ago I know what kids with smartphones do. I'm not gonna list all the shady shit my friends and myself included used our smartphones for. All I'm going to say is how convenient it is to be able to take a nude and send it all on one device, and don't even get me started on snapchat 🙄. My friends and I used our phones to hide all kinds of shit from our parents. I mean you've got kids on this app as young as 13 or 14 taking about TTC and they all help each other out and encourage each other!
-
I know this app is also used by young girls to learn about sex, periods, ect. But I plan to have the sex talk with my children and be very open, and they could always use their computer to find out anything they're too embarrassed to ask me.
-
These are only a couple reasons why I don't want my kids having smartphones besides it just being so unnecessary. Am I wrong? Do teenagers really need smartphones like my SO is saying? Be hones

Answer

Your kids will do what they want anyway, they don't need a phone to show someone their naked body. Think it's a little dramatic

Answer

The more controlling or sheltering you are of your children, the more they will be either alienated or curious to try "rebellious" things or even too naive to function properly later in life. 
They will figure out a way to sext or watch porn regardless of whether they have a smartphone or not. Not letting them have smartphones only will make them angrier and socially underdeveloped with today's norms. 
Snapchat is fun for teens, not simply a sexting app. I rarely, if ever, use it for "naughty" reasons.
You should consider the benefits that outweigh the only *possible* (but not guaranteed) harms.

Answer

I personally don't agree with it, but it doesn't matter what I think. Fact is your teen will be angry and lash out at you for this. Your teen will be left out of a lot of things and probably made fun of for this. Having a smartphone is the norm nowadays. Laptops are not portable compared to phones and there will be lots of times when your child would probably like to google something but doesn't have their laptop with them. You can't even listen to music on one of those phones. And there will be times when your child want to listen to a song and the laptop won't be around. Truth is, your teen will do what they want regardless, they will find a way.

Answer

My daughter had my old phone for a few weeks, I had given it to her to keep in contact with some old friends when she moved school. She became moody and angry with her sister so I checked it (she knew I was going to check it regularly) and 2 girls were calling her names and she was retaliating. Took it away and had a long talk about what is appropriate. Kids need to be able to have time switched off from other people.

Answer

I agree, it will cause rebellious behavior. You want your kids to be free and make decisions. I would continually educate them of nudity and social media. Also, online bullying and being respectful of themselves.

Answer

It's a tough choice either way.. but I know what my SO's sisters do, since they have teenage girls.. one allowed her daughter to have a Snapchat and instagram with the exception that she has her password, and will be logged into it on her phone to monitor. Works for them. 
It's hard when your SO isn't agreeing with you on this one..

Answer

i think youre right. they should have phones they can call and text on but theres no reason for them to have smart phones. i intend to do this with my kids when they get to early teenage years and start wanting phones.

Answer

I think it depends on a lot of things. First age. Teenager could be 13 and it could be 17. I think everyone's first phone should be something a little embarrassing lol. Mine was the

Answer

I agree with you because a smartphone can lead to very very unhealthy habits. It'll keep them up at night and won't get enough sleep. There's things you can access with a touch o a button and I know damn well I ain't gonna be giving my kids smart phones

Am I wrong for not wanting my teenagers to have smartphones?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey