At what age is it appropriate for kids to use smartphones?

For me, they can have it as early as primary school ages.

I allowed my kids to use a mobile phone when they were 9 years old. I also limited the time they use it. When they were little, I always had a coloring book and crayons in my bag or I gave them a book to read. I let them get bored because boredom makes the child creative.

I think it depends what they're using them for. I didn't use a smartphone until later in life, and my children never used them when they were very young, but that's mainly because they didn't exist I don't like to see kids (or adults, for that matter) glued to screens constantly. However, if they are watching a 5 minute cartoon while waiting for something then I don't see that as a problem. Using them as electronic babysitters for hours on end is a problem. I don't feel that any child under, say, 12 years old would have any need to own their own smartphone. After that age, I would say it depends on the child and what they're using the phone for.

I wouldn’t want my child using a smartphone until they went to college, at eighteen. A standard, non smartphone is good enough until they leave to explore the world. Now, if they wanted to pay for it themselves, I’d think about letting them having a smartphone at 17, but I just don’t want my young teenager having access to everything a smartphone offers.

My 9 year old granddaughter has one. I don't agree with it. But her other grandma got it for her, saying she needs it to be safe in case of emergency. She plays games on it, sneaks it into her room and is up at night playing games on it. It doesn't have internet access but that's the only good thing I can say about it. I tried to convince Grandma #2 that a text/call only phone was the best thing but no one ever listens to me. I think children should have a smartphone when they can pay for it themselves.

Some parents are using smart devices to "babysit" their children... If it keeps the child's attention, then the parents don't have to pay attention to the child.

I will give my son a smartphone when he is 3 years old, but it will come with time-based screening rules, and he must be supervised by a parent while watching YouTube