What is the appropriate age for a child/teen to get a cell phone?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (114164)
United States
January 3, 2026 11:52am CST
My sister and BIL started off with a plain, regular cell phone when Amyra, my now 14 year old niece, was twelve. At first, it was only given to her at church so she could call them after youth group to tell them where to pick her up. It was one those “child safe” carriers that turned out to be utter cr*p. So, when she was 13, they got her a smartphone. She’s allowed an hour a day on it, including if she FaceTimes her friends, and my BIL monitors through his phone how long she’s on it to make sure she doesn’t go over. It goes with her when she’s not with her parents so they can know where she is.
I think if you’re a parent you realize how much more dangerous the world is, and you want them to have access to a communication source when they are not with you. I mean, do any remaining pay phones even work?
A 15 year old girl was kidnapped while walking her dog, and when she didn’t return, her father found her by tracking her phone, finding her with her kidnapper, and kept him subdued until the police arrived. Thank goodness she had her phone.
What do you guys think?
16 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (169410)
• United States
3 Jan
Pretty got a cellphone at 11 years old, The day after her teacher refused to let her borrow her phone to call me to pick her up at school after I'd been assured by the principal that Pretty could call me when the bus/field trip returned so I could pick her up. When Pretty walked home at midnight, I was livid!
The next morning, I skipped work and went to see the principal. When I walked in, he knew something had gone wrong. After I told him what happened the night before, he called the teacher to report to his office.
Long story short, the teacher was fired that morning and I bought Pretty a phone so something like that couldn't happen again.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (169410)
• United States
3 Jan
@AmbiePam He told me if she was caught with a cellphone at school, it would be taken from her. I told him if anyone took her phone, I'd sue him, personally, and the school itself. She got to carry her phone at school.
I still get angry thinking about it!
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47713)
• India
3 Jan
I don't have children now, but I think children sh ould not be given a phone until they get wise enough to distinguish between good and bad. At least before they are 18. And even after them the parents should be aware of how they are using it.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (94992)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Jan
No kids, but I would think at about the age of 10 and up. Anyway it is funny I survived with no mobile phone in my childhood because there were none, and I still don't have one.
3 people like this
@Treborika (18171)
• Mombasa, Kenya
4 Jan
It's very possible to live without a smartphone
2 people like this
@xstitcher (38194)
• Petaluma, California
3 Jan
I don't think a child should have a cell phone until they are at least 13 or 14. I see way too many younger kids with a phone--whether their parents' or otherwise.
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (118919)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Jan
I would say around 15 years of age. Have the cellphone handy for emergencies.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (167965)
• United States
4 Jan
I think it is good for kids to have access to a phone. At school in our structured room a first grader brings his phone in his back pack. Not allowed to use it as a phone. He has no concept really. He uses it for the internet. Another kiddo has a smart watch and can call his mom. This is a good thing because he gets upset and runs away or has in the past. My grands, I am not sure right at this moment. I think the twenty year old may have her own phone she pays for. They have what they call the "house phone" for when they go somewhere on their own and need to be in contact or if their parents go somewhere. It is a cell. The boys are younger, but are both teens and they use their parent's phones sometimes to communicate with other friends who are also in the homeschool co op.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (203934)
• United States
3 Jan
It sounds your like your BIL ,sister have the right idea.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (130651)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jan
They can be a useful tool. Glad they are keeping control of the phone
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (215562)
• United States
4 Jan
As long as parents monitor usage, it's probably OK to give them a phone at 12 or 13.
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (87124)
• Rupert, Idaho
3 Jan
I don't know the right or appropriate age....but my son has had a phone for a long while already - but it's never had cell service, he uses it for playing games. Probably not good either, I know.
3 people like this
