At what age do you get your child a cell phone?

Question

Hi all. Just curious here. What age would you get your child a smartphone. If earlier than 8 or older than 13, why? Thanks!

Answer

I've  worked in schools. I've  seen what kids do and look up. They are not mentally capable of comprehending the dangers of internet use.  
Giving a minor access to pretty much the whole world via a smart phone is too much. Anyone in the world can access a minor with a smart phone. 
I personally would rather only have to worry about people with bad intentions in my neighborhood as a parent then try to have to teach my young child to fend off the world of people with bad intentions.
I've confiscated flip phones from 3rd graders making phone calls in the morning to random numbers for fun.  before  school after parents drop off.  Kids don't understand the true dangers of phone use.  I prefer to make my child use a chance school office phone or a parents phone if they need to reach me. 
That's just my experience and preference.

Answer

Been a nanny 14 years, I will tell you phones will bring nothing but trouble. There are plenty of options if you need it for safety but there is no reason for a child under 13 to have an iPhone like device. Let’s be real folks. Who do they need to call besides you? Do they really need to be able to text grandma they love her?Honestly the excuses of why kids have gotten phones is ridiculous. But Parents constantly complain that the kids don’t listen, are getting into trouble online, and never put the phone down. Look in the mirror, most parents come home and never put their phone down.

Answer

Shit I want to put it off as long as possible. 10 year olds are getting kidnapped from talking with older adults. Fuck that

Answer

Unpopular opinion- My kids won’t get a cell phone till they’ve got a job and can pay for it themselves 🤷🏻‍♀️ I didn’t get a cell till I was 18 and it was a chunky Nokia. Certain amount of minutes a month. Old school t9 texting. Only game I had was snake 2 lol.

Answer

i got a cellphone when i was in 1st or 2nd grade so my parents or our household employees could contact me if there was a change of plans of who was picking me up and when. 
i got my smartphone when i was in 6th grade. same concept with picking up but my parents trusted me enough to have social media under their supervision. i was only allowed to use it for about an hour a day for entertainment though. the rest of the time was just for contact.

Answer

My son wont be getting a phone until he gets a job (16years old) or he will get a phone that has many restrictions .
My smartphone ruined my life. When I was like 15 or 16 i was talking to a stranger online , i sent nudes and the person leaked them all over facebook and there was nothing I could do except go to school the next day and hear people yelling to me in the hallway 
"slut, your a whore, your so fucking ugly, keep your legs closed dirty bitch, too bad you didnt make any money off the them you hoe" 
I got death threats from people on YouTube msg saying that they know where I live because of my email and IP address. 
If you search my name you will find so much shit , old accounts, so so embarrassing 
I can proudly say, I learned my lesson. Never again. 
I see my step sister now shes 14 and she's sharing private information on instagram and showing her locations, I keep warning her and her mother but they dont listen. 
The internet is very dangerous, then and even more NOW.

Answer

Mom of teens here.
They got their phone when they were 10 and 11.  They got them because they were both in a lot of activities that didn’t always have a set end time and they would struggle to access a phone to let me know when they needed to be picked up.  We used pay phones as kids for that kind of stuff but they mostly don’t exist anymore.
I put an app blocker on it though so they were only allowed to make phone calls and play certain games.  They were unable to download anything else or access the web.

Answer

My oldest is 10 he’s doesn’t go play outside as his mates don’t live near us. He has a iPad, Xbox and switch to talk to his mates while they playing a game or FaceTimes them. He doesn’t need one till he’s starts high school in couple years time, that’s when he have more freedom to go out with his friends by himself so obviously needs a phone then.

Answer

17 and they will be getting a phone without internet just talk and text. Super cheap and simple. They want something nicer they will be paying for it.

Answer

I’m getting my daughter a cell phone early because she has type 1 diabetes and she might need me

At what age do you get your child a cell phone?

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