DO NOT give your kid a smartphone this Christmas

@Deargodletitgo my 8 year old walks to school, he isn't tracked and doesn't own a phone (it is under quarter of a mile) I truly think that if I had GPS on him it would make me more neurotic than not.

There are still paper maps. (Why do they need a map to go to school?)

You don't need to Whatsapp. Normal texting is available on non-smart phones.

Bus companies really should make paper/ card bus passes available.

The Channel 4 documentary swiped is interesting. It focuses on phones but my takeaway was it was a combination of phones and social media. Social media also being on tablets and computers.

I'm holding out on a ban of tiktoc Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit. YouTube only with limits. What's app is tricky because it allows texting and video calls across platform.

Loving down website access is a pain but worthwhile.

I hate apple parental controls. Google family is much better.

But a phone is a part of life for calling, texting, navigating, bloody homework, learning apps (Duolingo), banking, camera. So I'm off the stronger parenting and moving down the device approach.

My children are very tech aware and they love tech!

My children are now in yr 8 and yr 6 but have had phones from year 4. They've had PC's from at least then too if not before.

I don't think phones or computers are inherently bad. It's just important they are used mindfully and parents ensure good monitoring and education around their use.

My children benefit from the independence their phones give them. They have benefitted hugely from using their pcs for gaming, building things, developing and creating games, writing, making animations, youtubing, etc.. Computers are incredible technology and my children have gained so much. My youngest also enjoys learning to make the world of the PC come to life through 3D printing etc.. very creative.

Phones are so useful where we live. My children coordinate meet ups with their friends, chat to each other and take their phones when they go out and about so I know they are safe and could be tracked if needs be.

Both my children are very sporty, creative, intelligent and well rounded individuals, like many other children their age. I would say that the tech has done them no harm and in fact, has aided their skills and creativity.

It isn't the phones or the pcs or the tech that is bad. It's just important to use them correctly and with adult support for children and young people.

@sunshineandshowers40 I’d say about 50% of the parents I know are definitely not doing a smart phone for their kids (currently year 5-7), for as long as poss. The others, either I don’t know their stance or their kid (9yo) have iPhones already.

The solution isn't banning phones (why smart phones, reminds of when it was all flat screen TVs) it is teaching how to use them safely and wisely.

Similar to alcohol, don't ban completely and then kids go wild at 18. teach them to enjoy responsibly

@Firey40 How old are your DC? What age would you allow a smart phone? Mine are teens, I won't be taking their phones away but I am interested to see how many parents are not getting their younger DC smartphones. When my oldest was in Y7 all of his friends (apart from 1) had a smart phone, do less Y7s have a phone now?

Absolutely! For me it’s instagram and mainly stupid fucking bloody MUMSNET. I want better for my kids and don’t want them addicted like me.

I think most parents have better things to do in the week before Christmas, than taking orders from random Mumsnet posters and their Instagram reels.

Reading 'Glowkids' is on my to do list but luckily my children aren't that age yet. I would happily give them Nokia 3210s. Lots of parents are equally addicted to TikTok/Snapchat and endless scrolling so its a wider issue too.

I do understand that, as a parent. As a child living rurally, we were never tracked (2000s, so the days of MSN and MySpace, so definitely social media days 😄). I can’t imagine letting my kids cycle away for miles and walk through fields for miles alone etc but as a kid it was brilliant. We probably took my parents’ brick phone sometimes but no tracking, and the one time I did have an accident definitely had no way to tell anyone and made it home - good memories 😂

For me, social media is what I want to protect my kids from. Tracking wise, I’m hoping for a smart watch or locked-down old iPhone/ipod… pretty sure there’s some nice new phones coming out with maps/tracking/music/phone/text but no SM.

I totally agree, but I doubt a Mumsnet post on the 20th December is the best way to bring people round to your cause.

My son is 18 next week he's Diabetic and needs his phone to stay alive.

@Firey40 Fuck Off that.

Don't you think it's a bit ironic to be complaining about smartphones while posting a link to a smartphone app? 🫣

Brick phone and a separate tracker then you know he won't be exposed to online bullying, hard porn, suicide information etc and his mental health will benefit along with sleep and concentration

DS10 has already got one, and has had for over a year. He is very sensible with it and he's got limits on screen time and apps etc.

Kids under 10 don't need a smart phone at all
Kids under 16 don't need any public social media (instagram, facebook etc)

but modern kids who commute to school alone do need a phone that has maps and a bus pass and can whatsapp their parents

That is useful. But it's also invaluable to know how to cope without access to a phone.

You can have smart phones without social media

Completely agree, op. We all know deep down the harm that smartphones are doing.

@Deargodletitgo completely understand the need to track and check up on safety of a child walking to school but there are other options. People use GPS watches. Definitely something to investigate.

As parent of 16 DD and 18 DS I really regret having given mine them when they went to secondary school and wish we could go back. We have been struggling with DDs phone addiction. She's now down to "only" 5 to 6 hours a day. She was at 10 previously. This does include watching Netflix. But bloody hell it's been a nightmare and even she recognises that her attention span and focus has improved. She also has struggled with anxiety and IBS which I'm sure is no coincidence.
If you can never let them have them in the bedroom either. Sleep issues too!

smartphones are bad…anyway, here’s a link I found on Instagram whilst on my smartphone to back that up.

Talk and text phone.
Air tag if you’re keen on stalking tracking him.