What do I need to know or do before I get my 12 year old a phone?

29 replies

coodawoodashooda · 14/11/2023 18:11

Just that. I've given in to the pressure. How can I make the experience as painless as possible?

OP posts:

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 14/11/2023 18:24

Mine have Motorola phones, if they break they’re not expensive to replace as I found with dd1 who dropped her phone down the toilet.
They need checking every day for content and messages, PIN stays as is and never changed, have the phone in your name and this can be confiscated as and when. Limit data, once it’s run out they don’t get more. Mine have 12GB which is enough.

schooloflostsocks · 14/11/2023 18:24

I told mine it doesn’t belong to them and I installed screentime. They have no apps or browsers unless I enable them remotely. The phones are therefore pretty boring and don’t get used much. They have music and messaging but not WhatsApp and no picture messages are allowed

Moominmoko · 14/11/2023 18:21

You don't need to get them an iPhone to see where they are! You can track them on Google maps or apps like life360 for free.

Mine just has a cheap Android because it will definitely get lost or smashed. Google also has the family link app which means you can restrict screen time and access to apps. I have an iPhone and these things are all cross platform now.

CissOff · 14/11/2023 18:17

Get insurance would be my #1 tip. Mine have iPhones so I can see where they are on ‘find my’ - I know you can have paid for apps but DH and I are iPhone users and it works for us. We also have the Apple family plan for storage.

Also be prepared for arguments over usage 🙃

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