Smartphone for 13 year old

[LyannaStarktheWolfMaid]

12 year old DS has a birthday coming up and has hinted that he would like a smartphone as apparently everyone in the universe has one except him. Currently he has a very basic mobile with no internet access. I am dubious about providing a child of this age with unfettered internet access, even though DS is very sensible and I think he can be trusted not to abuse the privelege. My questions are 1) does your teen/tween have a smartphone 2) if so how do you keep their usage safe? Thanks

I am heading to Carphone Warehouse tomorrow, already chatted to them and they recommend the Alcatel phone, says it's been popular with parents, can cap the usage

You can put various 'blocks' on the internet use. He may want access to snapchat or instagram so I'd look online for advice about that. Definitely talk to him about online safety if you haven't already. Your provider should be able to help. Also discuss things like having it stolen/confiscated. Would it be replaced if it was damaged? Maybe on condition that you have full access at any time.
I would also stipulate that it never goes upstairs, always charged up overnight in the kitchen

There will be many on here who will tell you their dcs don't have smartphones, I can only tell you that in my experience as a mother of 7, 4 in teens 3 now 20/21/22 that I have not come across a single child without one.
I can imagine him getting teased quite badly because of it. Teens /secondary is all about fitting in. Personally I wouldn't hesitate.
You can block sites, have parental controls, cap them etc.
Snapchat is their means of communication. This will be important to him. You need to have a chat. Talk about responsibilities. Let him be a normal secondary school child. Just keep an eye , educate yourself on it.
Make him understand that any nonsense and it is a privilege that can be withdrawn.

My kids have had smartphones since they were 12. But I put limits on their usage and checked their phones every day. They knew that if I asked to look at their phones they had to turn them over immediately. I was VERY diligent in monitoring what they did with their phones. They are now 20 and 18, adults, obviously, but I never had an issue when they were still children. Open communication and monitoring is the key.

O2 and the Nspcc have a scheme which helps parents set up suitable controls and how to talk to kids and what stuff they might be using. You may not what to use them but if you are near a shop it might be worth having a chat with them about getting started with the whole thing.

Thanks for your help, everyone. I think I'll go to O2 and see what they've got to say.