To be shocked that 97% of 12 years olds have smart phones?

[Rhayader]

My DCs school does not allow smartphones and most of the schools around here are the same. The kids all have Nokias (and often an AirTag or similar for tracking).

I can’t believe it’s 97%! Am I totally out of touch? She’s never even asked for a phone.

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2024/sep/23/children-who-dont-have-smartphones

‘Also a special function for YouTube videos because there’s so much junk on there but also so much valuable stuff. DD is working through a multi-video sketching tutorial atm but I don’t want them watching hours of unboxing videos or Mr Beast walking on hot coals to win a car or something.
’

we blocked YouTube on devices and our kids can access it only on rhe main family TV —— that’s also works…

Right, but poverty means not being able to afford lots of things that aren't at all expensive. And we're told that more than 3% of people live in poverty.

But being in poverty now doesn't mean you were always in poverty.

Lots of children will own hand-me-down phones from other family members, plus a cheap simcard from somewhere like GiffGaff, or their parents will save all year and get a cheap second hand phone online for £50 etc.

Year 7 dc here- all homework and communication from school is through an app. Kids are expected to message teachers eg about clubs, music lessons on the app too. Everyone has a smartphone in secondary school.

A friend's daughter goes to a school where they have been asked to not have smartphones. I have no idea whether they have to sign a contract - I think everyone just complies. It's a bit irritating though because if the Tube is broken, it would be useful to have Citymapper available.

This is an interesting article: https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/children-under-16-smartphone-ban-mental-health-parenting-rb68pnxpb

I actually think the groups (WhatsApp, messenger etc) are not great for kids. Getting back to your phone and finding 300 messages (most of which are nonsense) would drive anyone crackers.

Because we have people stuck in credit cycles. We’re a country based on consumerism.

Yes, with TVs, I had a TV in my room, my friend's did and as young teenagers secretly have it on late at night watching The Word or other sich unsuitable programmes for a 13 year old. We were into grunge music which had a very depressing message about living, Just 17 offering advice on salad dieta for impressionable girls that wanted to look like Kate Moss.

Actually, I was watching The Word more like 11 years old.

So there's not a single parent in the whole school who's decided not to let their dc have one?

Nokias??? Are you sure you dont mean iPhones??

At my DDs school im sure any kid with a Nokia would be the laughing stock of the school

Hand me downs and a £10 a month contract.

Maybe , but their children would find school life very difficult as a result. I’ve just told mine to check their app for homework due on Monday and their upcoming sports fixtures. One was pleased to find a merit message from a teacher.
I think these things can be managed- most dc I know in year7/8 are not allowed instagram snapchat or tick tok. Also no phones before school or at bedtime. It’s not all or nothing!

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't - my point is, it's the parents' choice. If they decide on nothing, it's nothing. And if they can't pay for phones for kids, it's nothing. And why should kids suffer because of that?

Well wait until you have a teenager!!!!

There’s three allowed phones and they are all dumb phones with no camera. Most kids get the Nokia because it’s the easiest one to source….

I think it was something like £14.

Even these phones have to be switched off at school and you cannot use them until you are a reasonable distance from the school gates.

My twins got phones in July on turning 16. Never even asked previously.

I'm surprised that you're surprised, OP. It is completely the norm for 12yos to have smartphones these days.

I'm guessing that a lot of parents who choose the type of school that you describe tend to be quite conservative anyway, so perhaps more likely to go along with the school's strict phone policy. But yes, it's definitely a fairly unusual bubble that your kids are in.

Personally, I sit on the side of thinking that it's better to teach kids to interact with technology in a safe and sensible way, rather than banning it, but if it's the norm for that school, then at least the kids won't feel like they're missing out in any way.

I think it's much, much harder for the tiny minority of kids in mainstream schools who may find that they're the only one without a phone and therefore end up being excluded from group chats and social arrangements etc. I understand parents' concerns about smartphones etc but will never understand why parents would choose to put their kids in that position.

I believe. I know loads of kids that age. All have smart phones.

When my DD, DNeice & DNephew we're all in Year 7 they were given second hand smartphone handsets that once belonged to me or my brother. Smartphone use is very common where we are, even though we live in London with its tiny catchments. I knew of kids having dumb phones in Year 6, but most graduated up in Year 7 to a new or used smartphone.

My daughter had a smartphone at 13. 14 years ago! But I parented her properly, she was/ is not screen addicted and it never caused any issues. She was however, able to message me with ease, and also it gave us both peace of mind.