To think that giving your young child a smartphone is very stupid?

[ILostMy20s]

Read this story on the BBC News site today:

Nine-year-olds added to malicious WhatsApp groups - BBC News

Surely I can't be the only one to wonder why on earth children as young as nine even have/need a smartphone in the first place? I appreciate we live in a dangerous world and there are a lot of people who worry about their children's safety - but is it really any more dangerous now than pre the existence of smartphones?

When there is so much evidence about the detrimental effects that phones and social media in particular can have on children, and stories like this, why on earth would you risk giving your child a smartphone at such a young age? At that age, the digital world is potentially much more dangerous/harmful than anything they're likely to experience in the real world.

I personally don't have any children myself yet, but if I did, I'd be very reluctant to let them have a phone before the age of 16. I'm in my 30s, and didn't have a mobile phone until I started university - and I fail to understand the logic or reasoning in letting a child have a phone before then, but particularly when they're so young (8-12, for instance).

I always find it quite sad seeing young kids attached to phones so early when I think back to my childhood and how happy and carefree it was. But I suppose many kids grow up these days not knowing anything different.

But am I being old fashionable/unreasonable in thinking this? I'd definitely be interested to hear other people's opinions.

Massively stupid and as a teacher I tell all parents who ask me about it that it has a huge impact on educational outcomes.

Already just within my own setting I can see links between early smartphone use and poorer attainment.

Massive friendship issues arise in our P4 and 5 classes due to Snapchat drama. Inappropriate photos exchanged as young as P6. My DSD has access to YouTube with grandparents and believes everything she sees on there is bloody fact, it’s taking SO much discussion and unravelling, and it’s not her fault, her brain isn’t mature enough to filter out bad sources yet.

I’ve been teaching 12 years and attention/concentration/behaviour/ability to play creatively have all declined during that time, as smartphones are handed out to younger and younger children.

End of primary for me, heavily supervised and with no social media.

An unrestricted smartphone is a bad idea. A device with heavy parental supervision can be a useful tool in many circumstances.

My 8 year old has a phone with a sim, the phone basically helps keep him alive.

It's not all black and white.

Spot on.

My DC age 9 and 6 both have iPads. They are heavily locked down. They cannot install an app without my approval, they can't browse the internet, they can only imessage contacts that I've approved (currently only family members) etc. they mainly use the iPads to play Minecraft and watch YouTube kids which both have time limits on. When they are at their dads' EOW I also sometimes get imessages from them and FaceTime calls which is sweet. I won't be allowing WhatsApp until they are considerably older. Not sure when yet.

I used this guide, which was useful and also quotes some scary statistics. gertrude.app/docs/definitive-guide-to-locking-down-an-iphone

What concerns me too is that an increasing number of parents seem to be allowing unrestricted access to screens. Most of my DC's friends have their own Xboxes and at least two other mums at the school have told me that their DC have no interest in toys anymore and just play on their iPads all day.

A lot of children seem unable to entertain themselves these days because they are either in front of a screen or doing some kind of structured activity. This is less concerning than what this thread is about but I'm not convinced the instant gratification is good for children long term.

Yes, especially with the latest thing on kids being added to groups where they can view racism and violence.
Not worth it.

Hmmm...age 9 in some areas is where they start to get more freedom. Also my children don't have smart phones but they are lucky enough to have their own iPads. Giving a kid an old phone to play games on is far more affordable than an iPad.

My children are younger than this but monitored on their iPad. We know what they do on them.

Which can totally happen IRL. Ignoring any of it is a bad idea. Teach them to deal with it.

I personally don't have any children myself yet, but if I did, I'd be very reluctant to let them have a phone before the age of 16

You lost me here to he honest.

Most children have a phone by the time they are at secondary school. I agree about limiting social media though and unsupervised Internet access . A phone to be able to contact parents, track location has it's benefits though , 16 is way too old.

I’ve got a 10yr old and doesn’t have a phone yet.

She uses a family laptop for homework, emails and can use my phone if she wants to call her friends in the holidays.

None of her friends have phones and from chats with other parents there aren’t any plans to change this.

I could see her getting one when she’s independently traveling places, which would be at 13+ based on our situation (her school goes to 13, there are no buses so we have to drive her)

On the one hand, I understand that we live in a world where technology is becoming an increasingly integral part of life, and parents may feel the need to give their children access to smartphones for communication and security. However, on the other hand, there is a number of scientific studies confirming the harmful effects of smartphones on children, including problems with sleep, vision, and social and emotional aspects of their development.

Why on EARTH does your 9yr old have or need a phone?! They should never, ever be unsupervised out of the house, at 9. My 9yr old doesn't even play out unsupervised.

I'm in my 30's and had a phone around age 13, my daughter is 7, she'll get a phone when she start secondary school at 11 as she'll then be getting a bus to school. She may even get one in Y6, will see what friends do. She'll get an Iphone and i'll be setting up a family account so i can monitor and restrict things. She's had a tablet for years, uses it for some of her school apps plus watching Disney when on holiday/travelling.

Not letting them play out seems OTT tbh, what sort of place do you live in? They need to be allowed out to develop a bit of sense.

@EnglishBluebell

Why on EARTH does your 9yr old have or need a phone?! They should never, ever be unsupervised out of the house, at 9. My 9yr old doesn't even play out unsupervised.

it's completely normal for kids to go out to play unsupervised from age 5/6 in much of Scotland and many walk/bus home from school at that age.

My 9 year old walks home from school - they are allowed to from Year 4 where we are. My own parents were pretty protective but even they let me walk by myself short distances from 9.

My 9 year old doesn’t have a phone though. I don’t get this idea that walking home has to go hand in hand with having a smartphone and if you don’t give your child a phone they can never go out or get any independence. Maybe if a child was navigating a whole city, but not just to walk a few streets within a tiny primary catchment or to play in the park across the road.

I don't think the OP was making reference to people who give their child a phone without a sim card etc in

How do you stop people contacting them that aren't on a list, is this an app?