Daughter has bought her 7 year old a phone

You can do that on a tablet though. I'm 37 and don't own a smartphone. I have a cheap Nokia for calls and texts (and Snake!) but I do everything else on a tablet, although I don't go on tiktok or Snapchat either.

This reply is quite frightening and shocking.

But by "constant staring at the screen" you are making the presumption children are using them for hours at a time. Does your concern also extend n to games consoles, tvs etc?? Data is only as effective as the research design and can be manipulated for whatever means parties want.... We've all heard about the nonsense regarding paracetamol and pregnancy haven't we?
My issue is that 99.9 percent of parents who allow their children to have mobile phones do so in a totally responsible and supervised way which negates any of the nonsense spouted on this thread!

But by "constant staring at the screen" you are making the presumption children are using them for hours at a time. Does your concern also extend n to games consoles, tvs etc?? Data is only as effective as the research design and can be manipulated for whatever means parties want.... We've all heard about the nonsense regarding paracetamol and pregnancy haven't we?
My issue is that 99.9 percent of parents who allow their children to have mobile phones do so in a totally responsible and supervised way which negates any of the nonsense spouted on this thread!

We do not have enough information yet on smartphone exposure and cognitive development in young children. Even if we ignore the risks, the constant staring at the screen and fast moving images and apps could have long-term effects on focus and concentration. Responsible parents will wait for research and data before giving their kids phones.

Many young kids will want a phone, due to peer pressure etc. The decent and strong parents resist giving in and find other ways for their children to be entertained and educated. Yes, it takes much more effort, but they are doing the right thing by their children.

I've got a first class undergrad degree in law and a masters (in IT law)

I'm not remotely stupid. My children have to spend part of the week with an abusive parent thanks to the stupidity of our family court system so giving them phones young (and locking them down appropriately ) was a key way I could help them. It's a life or death thing for me and I couldn't give a fig who judges me for it).

Mine use their phones far less than friends who got them later. They haven't ever spent much time on them. They have interesting and engaging hobbies and enjoy spending time with me

People who just give their 7yo a smartphone are 99% of the time fucking dumb.

I wonder if there are any stats on educational level of parents and giving children smartphones at a young age. Certainly from my experience, educated parents do not do this.

I have a BA hons degree, am wll educated and not dumb by any stretch.

I am however able to suoervise my child. Ensure restrictions are in place and educate her in how to use it safely. We also have an open dialogue about its dangers, rhe dangers of online bullying and she is comfortable and confident enough to raise issues with me.

Perhaps you should educate yourself better.

Why though? What on earth qualifies you to make such a sweeping judgment? What do you think parents who give their children's phones actually allow them to do on them?

People who just give their 7yo a smartphone are 99% of the time fucking dumb.

I wonder if there are any stats on educational level of parents and giving children smartphones at a young age. Certainly from my experience, educated parents do not do this.

I feel so sorry for children of this age whose ignorant parents give them smart phones. It is a form of emotional neglect in my eyes.

Yes. This is the bottom line. When my child asks me when she will get a phone I say “when you understand the depths of human depravity”. She doesn’t quite understand what that means yet so I’ll wait till she’s older to elaborate (and even older still to have a smartphone). As she is almost secondary school age, I see the advantage of her having a non-smartphone - she is now occasionally not with me and not at school or a club so it will be handy to be able to contact her. Soon, not just yet.

People who buy their kids smartphones and use them like shared communal devices, well I don’t have much of an issue with that but I also don’t see it as a 7yo having their own smartphone. People who just give their 7yo a smartphone are 99% of the time fucking dumb. The only exception I can see on this thread is where there is a custody arrangement with a parent who has substance abuse (or similar) issues. Totally understand that, but perhaps a non-smartphone might be suitable and less risky.

Excactly if it was 1985 and a 7 year old got a 'walkman' or a camera or a gameboy nobody would bat an eyelid.

It would be thats nice dear, look after it.
Instead its a crazy OMG phones are the work of the devil!

speak for yourself.

You know it's possible to first, not let a child on their phone without supervision, and more importantly, to see what your child actually does on their phone?

I guess people who are as ignorant as you are probably safer without a phone indeed.

Because my nearly 10 year old already has a phone, she’ll be well over it (and already is 😆) by the time she starts secondary where the REAL danger lies.

Teach them to use a phone safely at a young age. It’s worked for me.

Why not?

Your daughter is a fool.

Same - and her Apple account is completely controlled by mine - she can’t even add a contact (or even amend one!) without my consent. Unknown numbers can’t phone her. She can’t call numbers that aren’t contacts.

She can’t download apps without me knowing. I have to consent first.

She can’t access the internet without my consent.

Upshot is, fun can be had absolutely safely.

And she knows WHY these safety measures are in place, which is really important for them to know.

It can be done if you’re sensible.

The hysteria on here is wild!!! Surely noone believes OPs dd is going to allow a 7 year old to set up social media accounts or suddenly have complete unsupervised and unrestricted access to the dark Web for 16 hours a day? A cheap smartphone is usually much cheaper than a tablet, and has access to plenty of age appropriate things children in the age of modern technology love: cameras, simple games, music etc. None of these things were issues when we were children, but just because they come in the format of a smartphone it's suddenly evil? And if a 7 year old can send a few "hi, what are you doing?" messages to family and friends what is the harm? I didn't have a smartphone until I was 27....because that's when they were released, it's now more and more common for these things to be more accessible to younger and younger children. As long as its limited screen time (any responsible parent would do this) and totally monitored then honestly there is zero issue.