![]() ![]() ![]() And in a European study across 19 countries, 80% of children aged nine to 16 reported using a smartphone to go online daily, or almost daily. In the US, 37% of parents of nine- to 11-year-olds say their child has their own smartphone. ![]() What's more, experts agree on several key factors to consider when deciding if your child is ready for a smartphone – and what you should do once they own one.ĭata from Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, show that the vast majority of children in the UK own a smartphone by the age of 11, with ownership rising from 44% at age nine to 91% at age 11. Most research so far focuses on adolescents rather than younger age groups – and emerging evidence shows there may be specific developmental phases where children are more at risk from negative effects. In particular, while there is no overarching evidence showing that owning a phone or using social media is harmful to children's wellbeing in general, that may not tell the full story. There are still many unanswered questions on the long-term effects of smartphones and social media on children and teenagers, but existing research provides some evidence on their main risks and benefits. And if your child's classmates and friends are all getting phones, won't they miss out without one? On the other hand, you probably have a phone yourself that you consider an essential tool for daily life – from emails and online shopping, to video calls and family photo albums. Apparently, even celebrities are not immune to this modern parenting problem: Madonna has said that she regretted giving her older children phones at age 13, and wouldn't do it again. The bewildering array of headlines relating to the possible impact of children's phone and social media use are enough to make anyone want to opt out. Should you hand your child a smartphone, or keep them away from the devices as long as possible?Īs a parent, you'd be forgiven for thinking of a smartphone as a sort of Pandora's box with the ability to unleash all the world's evils on your child's wholesome life. ![]()
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