Anyone else's 15 year old not got a phone?

[bridgetjonesmassivepants]

As above. He just isn't interested. Neurotypical by the way and popular enough at school. Has a computer in his room so chats with friends on Discord but that's it.

I know not having any sort of phone, smart or brick, is unusual but how unusual is this?

How do you get hold of him when he's out of the house with his friends though?

I would say that’s very unusual
does he not want a basic one for emergencies?

All I can say is well done and I am not being sarcastic.

Why is it well done? So odd.

Have they never asked for one? I don't know any secondary aged child/teen who doesn't have their own phone.

Agree. The longer you can protect them from social media the better.

Definitely unusual but if he isn't bothered and you don't feel even a basic one is necessary for emergencies/keeping in touch when he's not at home then I don't see a problem.

I'm a lone parent and DS15 is often out and about with friends, goes in to the City on public transport by himself and is very independent so I like him to be able to let me know he has arrived safely/ needs picked up/ his plans have changed etc. Even if he wasn't bothered about having a smartphone (aside from social media he uses it for online banking, school meals app, gaming) I think we would still use a basic brick for texting.

His on discord that’s a social media. The good the bad and outright wtf is all available on discord.

Odd? It’s brilliant! We are of an age where we need to be constantly contacted, available and ready and willing to connect. It’s not very healthy and OPs son is able to live differently to that and be independent and sit with himself.

I apukd say massively unusual, but if he isn't bothered then I don't see the issue.

We didn't have mobiles when we were that age. I think inwas 20 or 21 before I got my first phone (they didn't exist really before then).

My only concern would be what he does about banking, train journeys etc. Also, he will need one for many jobs so ought to have some clue at some point…

I wouldn't like it, assuming he goes out independently of you how does he get hold of you in emergencies?
I know we went out without phones back in the day but it is really unusual to be completely out of contact with your children these days.

Very unusual, but as long as he's happy? I would never FORCE a phone on a child!

From year 6, so still primary!, kids organise all their meet-ups, parties etc on their phone. It would be horribly isolating for them not to have a phone.

From year 7, secondary, they check homework/ activities from school on their phone, order their lunch and so on. They have to use their phone to call their parents if the school closes unexpectedly (we had storm damage here).

It's easier to police and manage a younger one with their phone and social media, than wait until they are 16 - old enough to get married - and you can't treat them like babies.

As a parent, the tracker on the phone is brilliant.

On another note, I can access all my social media (tik tok, insta and so on) on my computer. I do because I am old and my phone screen is too small 😂

No phone does not mean no social media...

Ah, so as unusual as I thought then.

We live rurally so he is either at school or with us. He is just about starting to see friends but this has always been at our house.

I offer every now and then to get him a phone (I would pay the contract) but he doesn't see the need.

His older brother has been surgically attached to his phone since he got one at 12.

So he doesn’t go out anywhere on his own, or meet his friends in town etc for the cinema or something? That’s more unusual imo

Nope. Nearest cinema is an hour and a half round trip. If he wants to go anywhere I have to drive him and pick him up so I know exactly where he is.

I was way more social at his age, he's happy communicating online and at school.

You describing him as socially typical but then going on to say he never goes out, only uses discord, and only recently started having friends round means this is all very unusual and not typical

I do get your point but pretty typical in such a rural area. Also he goes to school out of catchment so his friends live up to an hour's drive away, he could do meet ups at the weekend but most of them have jobs.

My son doesn't have a phone, he's 13. Doesn't want one either. But he is autistic and doesn't seem the need. He doesn't go anywhere without me and at home he can use the Google to call me.

My 11 year old daughter does though, but she is much more social.

My autistic 23 year old does not use a phone and tbh it's a pain in the arse for things like banking or online shopping (which he also won't do). He spends 98 percent of his time on the computer but in a few "safe" (to his mind) online spaces.

I think it's unusual for a fifteen year old to not be making social arrangements and going out and about with his friends. We live an hour away from the nearest town and cinema but my teenagers still go to it and meet up with friends.

I'd say a big well done to anyone who resists the social pressure to give phones to kids. So many spineless parents nowadays talking like it's literally impossible to say no.

If the child has a computer with free access a parent have achieved nothing but a good feeling. Because everything on a phone pretty much can be accessed on a pc or an alternative version.

goady much?

My kids have phone because it's convenient, for them and for us. So what?

If you are raising your kids to be as judgmental and narrow-minded as you are on this thread, you are not coming across as superior as you think you are.