Page 8 | To be shocked that 97% of 12 years olds have smart phones?

Rhayader · 2024-09-27T17:15:46+00:00

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

Lindy2 · 27/09/2024 20:02

It's normal for Secondary School age children to have phones. That's the age mine first got there's. For the first time they were going to be travelling several miles away to High School.

The school has a no phone policy. They put their phones in their bags while at school. That's pretty straightforward. They have the phones if they need to contact me after school.

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:03

Missingpate · 27/09/2024 20:00

Well we are very unusual by the sounds of it. DS 12 has an old style phone and forgets to take it with him most days, he doesn’t care in the slightest. He cycles to school, it takes 10
minutes, we only pressure him to take it on bad weather days as we will pick him up if it’s pouring. We don’t want a smart phone for as long as we can leave it, WhatsApp groups for kids sound awful to us. We are open to letting him have one when it starts to really matter. Hopefully not for some time yet. Thankfully he isn’t bothered at all. He plays online games with his friends, arranges to meet them on Google chat on his Chromebook, does homework and uses school apps on the Chromebook, and doesn’t miss a phone at all. His best friend also has a brick phone and doesn’t want a smart phone either. His parents feel the same as us and want to leave it as long as possible. No religious school, just a massive ordinary comprehensive. Other kids do all seem to have them, and no we don’t care.

But he online chatting with friends and playing online, does he also use the WWW hardly deprivation. I think it is a good idea but there has been a big campaign and push for this, it wasn't like that 6 years ago when my eldest was that age. Common sense prevailed though so all was well.

Missingpate · 27/09/2024 20:07

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:03

But he online chatting with friends and playing online, does he also use the WWW hardly deprivation. I think it is a good idea but there has been a big campaign and push for this, it wasn't like that 6 years ago when my eldest was that age. Common sense prevailed though so all was well.

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Agreed, we don’t want him deprived of social time or gaming (though it’s easier to limit in this format) and he certainly gets time online. We just don’t see the benefit of smart phones and apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat etc. specifically for that age. He simply doesn’t need one.

3WildOnes · 27/09/2024 20:10

I'm not surprised. Mine had a Nokia until secondary school. I don't think I know of any of their secondary aged friends who don't have smart phones. It's not actually that smary as I have blocked access to social media apps like snap chat and tick tok and they have limited use.

ThinWomansBrain · 27/09/2024 20:10

Yet according to the house of commons Library, 17% of children live in poverty. (22/23)

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:11

Rhayader · 27/09/2024 20:01

Of course I would mind but the benefit outweighs this risk in this scenario. I would prefer her to be able to use the canteen and the chance of a data breach is pretty small. Who would target some kids finger prints?

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Once physical identifiers are stolen they are out there and that is it you can't replace them, you can't replace your finger print.

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:13

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:11

Once physical identifiers are stolen they are out there and that is it you can't replace them, you can't replace your finger print.

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This is why I asked for a pin and my DD is probably the only one in her year with a canteen card as we didn't consent to the finger print.

PurpleThistle7 · 27/09/2024 20:15

What a funny rule.

My daughter was the last of her friends to get a smart phone in p6. Most had phones from around 9. I live in a city and it's a decent walk to the school so I got my daughter a phone when she started walking herself as there are no pay phones. It's been brilliant for us and has helped her manage her anxiety and keep in touch with extended family (we are immigrants).

I'll likely get my son a phone next year when he's 9 as I'm hoping he will walk himself to school then. Some of his friends already have them but mostly it's still watches for his age and then the phones show up next year.

Every single kid I've seen at my house or walking around has a smart phone so I'd think it's almost 100% for our school - the few kids who don't I'd guess it's for financial reasons.

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:15

TBF though as I work in this area, privacy is as important to me as what she or my son are accessing via phones. My son is nearly an adult and he doesn't away listen to me but tbf he doesn't have finger print access to his phone.

Original poster

Rhayader · 27/09/2024 20:16

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:15

TBF though as I work in this area, privacy is as important to me as what she or my son are accessing via phones. My son is nearly an adult and he doesn't away listen to me but tbf he doesn't have finger print access to his phone.

Yeah I agree it’s not ideal but I don’t think there is an option other than packed lunch which I just don’t have the capacity to do.

OP posts:

LongLiveTheLego · 27/09/2024 20:18

Gettingannoyednow · 27/09/2024 18:24

I'm not letting my son go 40 mins on a bus without having some way of getting hold of me so yes you are being ridiculously unreasonable.

I'm sure this is a significant social change - these days I think you're in the majority. But back in the mid-90s I was allowed, at age 12, to take a 40 minute bus ride to go shopping in town on my own, obviously without a phone. And my mum was widely considered to be ridiculously strict. I don't know what approach I'll take when my own dc is age 12, as I work with young people and from what I can see, the risks of having a phone are at least as great as the risks of not having a phone.

And there was a pay phone in every corner so completely different situation.

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:19

Rhayader · 27/09/2024 20:16

Yeah I agree it’s not ideal but I don’t think there is an option other than packed lunch which I just don’t have the capacity to do.

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Yes, I get that and also it is pushed by the schools as more convenient but I was informed by my knowledge in this area and new it was Consent based so knew they had to provide an alternative. I don't think finger print canteen payment should be obligatory, the lawful basis should always be Consent so maybe take it up with your school.

OhmygodDont · 27/09/2024 20:19

LongLiveTheLego · 27/09/2024 20:18

And there was a pay phone in every corner so completely different situation.

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And bobbies on bikes where seen.

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:19

Knew not new

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:21

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:19

Yes, I get that and also it is pushed by the schools as more convenient but I was informed by my knowledge in this area and new it was Consent based so knew they had to provide an alternative. I don't think finger print canteen payment should be obligatory, the lawful basis should always be Consent so maybe take it up with your school.

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You maybe seen as a bit of pain by the school but in my mind it was/is important.

Summertimer · 27/09/2024 20:21

Ponderingwindow · 27/09/2024 18:18

I’m shocked that you are shocked

Same, but I have an older DC and schools didn’t ban them or ask for them to be turned off all day. They actually photographed their science projects in the lessons in Yr8.

MadKittenWoman · 27/09/2024 20:22

DS had one from Y5 when he was 10. We did not restrict his use. He was trusted to be sensible and he was. He gained an MEng in computer science and now has his dream job as a programmer of a well-respected and very popular computer sports game.

Freshersfluforyou · 27/09/2024 20:22

Missingpate · 27/09/2024 20:00

Well we are very unusual by the sounds of it. DS 12 has an old style phone and forgets to take it with him most days, he doesn’t care in the slightest. He cycles to school, it takes 10
minutes, we only pressure him to take it on bad weather days as we will pick him up if it’s pouring. We don’t want a smart phone for as long as we can leave it, WhatsApp groups for kids sound awful to us. We are open to letting him have one when it starts to really matter. Hopefully not for some time yet. Thankfully he isn’t bothered at all. He plays online games with his friends, arranges to meet them on Google chat on his Chromebook, does homework and uses school apps on the Chromebook, and doesn’t miss a phone at all. His best friend also has a brick phone and doesn’t want a smart phone either. His parents feel the same as us and want to leave it as long as possible. No religious school, just a massive ordinary comprehensive. Other kids do all seem to have them, and no we don’t care.

So basically your DS gets loads of screen time, just not on a phone? In what way do you think thats really any different....

Bignanna · 27/09/2024 20:25

Greenqueen40 · 27/09/2024 18:20

That's Yrs 7&8, the majority travel to school independently. I'm not letting my son go 40 mins on a bus without having some way of getting hold of me so yes you are being ridiculously unreasonable.

He can have a phone but it doesn’t have to have a smart phone!

noworklifebalance · 27/09/2024 20:26

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 19:58

Not biometric data unless you have actively chose that.

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Although the fingerprint is not actually stored but just a few points or measurements

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 20:29

Soccermumamir · 27/09/2024 19:49

My point exactly. My eldest is 18, he had a smartphone from year 7, and he has left college, 2nd top in his class. He's at university now and has a part-time job with the council. It's done him no harm at all. Yes, at that age, he had restrictions as has my youngest now, but it's down to the parent to limit screen time on any device, and it's down to the maturity of your child. Some children are still very immature at any age. Technology is huge now. I mean, even AI has taken over jobs and is set to take over many more. We have to live with technology, not against it. Children need to be aware of online danger just as much as the dangers in the real world. They can't do that if everything is being overly controlled. That will make them even more inquisitive as they're being molly coddled.

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I think you have to be on top of it but it can be managed but also I don't think we are all bad parents from thay have DC our ages as it just wasn't in the news then, it's the new campaign now, I saw an article on it on breakfast news and listened to a radio programme about it, it's the hot topic at the moment.

MeatRaffleRita · 27/09/2024 20:32

Goldenbear · 27/09/2024 19:42

Well my child has a mini board and chalk - I don't care what his sixth form friends say!

Mini board AND chalk!

Your child doesn't know how lucky they are.

Mine is only allowed a charred stick and has to write messages to friends on the pavement or a wall.

He can have chalk when he's 18.

Lovelysummerdays · 27/09/2024 20:33

ThinWomansBrain · 27/09/2024 20:10

Yet according to the house of commons Library, 17% of children live in poverty. (22/23)

Some of the poorest people I know have the most expensive phones and so do their kids. I do wonder if it’s a status symbol? Or if people get sucked in as it’s not that much more to move up to next model. I’ll be passing down my 3yo iPhone at some point tbh. I’ll probably get a 12. I could afford a newer version but I don’t think I’ll like it £30 a month for three years more than an older version.

OhmygodDont · 27/09/2024 20:33

The world pre smart phone. Working pay phones everywhere. Where every child and adult knew the reverse charge number and new landline numbers in their heads. Where everyone knew the local shop keeper.

We all have a nosey neighbour who knew if you farted or burped.

Police where regularly seen down the streets keeping an eye and knew the local children and weirdos.

Where kids played in the street playing Kirby and climbed trees in the local fields.

Now its country lines, concealed knifes, no bobbies on the beat, barely any working pay phones, no one knows the reverse charge number let alone their own landline. That’s if they even have a landline anymore.

And Nosey Nora would be called a pedo nonce so she doesn’t look out anymore. Plus people don’t even talk to their neighbours.

So tracking phones and maps on phones is the new safety net as the old ones don’t exist really in the same way anymore.

florasl · 27/09/2024 20:34

DD’s school aren’t allowed phones anywhere on campus (even the boarders) until they are in sixth form.