What Age should a Child Get a Smartphone?: Pros and Cons of Early Phone Use of 2026

Smartphone addiction is real. It’s called “nomophobia” or the fear of being without a mobile phone. It can be hard to overcome this addiction in an era where internet use has become ubiquitous. So, naturally, parents are concerned about children having smartphones and often wonder what age should a child get a smartphone.

The smartphone offers unfettered access to the internet and the good things and dangers that come with it. The challenge for parents is to determine when their kids are old enough to absorb the benefits while sidestepping all the negativities.

Research suggests that there should be an age limit. But in reality, there are no legal guidelines to determine when parents should hand smartphones to their little ones and how old should you be to get a phone. As such, buying your child a smartphone should be a well-thought and meticulous decision.

On the one hand, many find it risky to let children have their own phone. After all, parental controls can only do so much to protect kids from applications and websites that they should not be exposed to. On the other hand, the use of smartphones can help reinforce schooling. 

Ages Four to Six

At this age, kids learn best from live, immersive interaction with parents, siblings/agemates, or caregivers. Given the choice, they would briskly opt for playing, talking, or being read to instead of using a smartphone.

Smartphones at a young age deny a child the opportunity to learn social skills from face-to-face interactions with human beings. Ultimately, this makes it difficult for them to develop empathy and read facial expressions. Even worse, constant over-stimulation from smartphone screens is damaging to the brain. It causes the child’s brain to become hardwired to crave easy dopamine from an early age.

For this reason, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) recommends keeping children below the age of two away from digital screens of any form. It is also recommended that parents limit children between the age of two to five years to less than one hour of screen time a day (CPS, 2017).

Ages Seven to 11

By this time, children are starting to enjoy independence from their parents. They spend most of their time in school and engage in extracurricular activities after school. Because of this, parents feel obliged to hand their children a smartphone to keep in touch when they are away

This is a wise move, given its merits. So, should a 10-year-old have a phone? The situation has a caveat that blurs any definitive answer. There is a risk that children might slide into social media use without their parents’ consent. This poses a serious risk because at this age, the kids’ critical-thinking skills have not kicked in yet. This means they do not understand the essence of posting things on social media or how to respond to the negativity that comes with it.

The kids will be exposed to cyberbullying and the over-reliance on peer validation on social media, which can have a negative impact on their development. To be on the safe side, Common Sense Media advises parents to opt for phones with limited features and no web access for young children and closely supervise their use.

Ages 12 to 14

Based on child development, children at these ages are transitioning to middle schools, and this is the time many feel entitled to own a smartphone and have access to educational websites for kids, and rightfully so. At this age, most adolescents have developed vital skills, such as problem-solving, impulse control, and critical thinking.

Therefore, while most adolescents are ready for supervised smartphone use, some might still be lagging behind in terms of the level of maturity. To evaluate the child’s readiness, parents may ask themselves the following questions:

• Is your child asking for a smartphone for safety reasons or purely social ones?
• Is the kid ready to wrap his head around the idea of limits to apps downloaded and minutes talked?
• Is the kid mature enough to use the photo, video, and text functions responsibly, not to text during class, or disturb others with conversations?

Ages 14 to 18

Around this age, a kid’s prefrontal cortex is nearly fully developed. The prefrontal cortex controls cognitive functions such as decision-making, perception, learning, and language ability. It can influence the acquisition of knowledge, reasoning, impulse suppression, planning, and organization.

Most kids in this age group—a common answer to what is a good age to get a phone—are ready to own a smartphone.  The idea to let kids in this age group have their smartphones is echoed by Bill Gates. The tech giant co-founder did not let his children own a smartphone until they attained the age of 14 years (Inc). On the other hand, James Steyer, the founder of Common Sense Media, said in an interview with the New York Times that he would wait until his kids are in high school before handing them a smartphone (Chen, 2016).

How to Assess Your Child's Readiness for a Smartphone

Determining when a child is ready for a smartphone involves more than just considering their age. It requires an evaluation of their maturity level, sense of responsibility, and overall understanding of boundaries. Start by observing how well your child handles other responsibilities at home or in school. Are they reliable with homework or chores? Can they follow rules without constant reminders? The answers to these questions may provide clarity on whether they are prepared for smartphone ownership.

Another crucial aspect is communication. Engage your child in an open dialogue about why they feel ready for a smartphone and what their intended use will be. Discuss potential risks such as online privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and screen addiction to gauge their awareness. These conversations often reveal gaps in understanding that parents can address before handing over a device.

Parental controls are an invaluable tool for easing children into smartphone use. By enabling restrictions on app usage, internet access, and screen time, parents can create a safer digital environment during the transition period. Additionally, opt for phones with limited features for young users—this ensures they are not overwhelmed by functionalities they may not yet be equipped to handle.