What age should kids get a phone?

Getting your first phone is a milestone for many, but if you're a parent, it can be hard to know when your child is ready. Like any other tool, a phone can be helpful when used correctly, but it can be destructive if not used well. 

What age should kids get a phone? Many subject-matter experts say the best age is between 12 and 16. The Cleveland Clinic favors the younger end of the range, while others like Jonathan Haidt, author of ‘The Anxious Generation,’ suggest waiting until your child can drive before they get a smartphone with social media. 

Keep reading to understand how weighing your child's safety and maturity can help you decide when they're ready, and how to prepare ahead of time. 

Determining the right age for a child to get a cell phone

When you're trying to decide what age your child should get a phone, start with the opportunities and drawbacks of phone usage for kids. Not all kids are ready at the same time. They mature at different rates, so the right age to get a phone may differ even in the same family.

Consider some of the following factors to help guide the conversation.

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

Maturity and responsibility: Key factors in the decision

• Ownership and responsibility: When considering what age kids should get a phone, evaluate your child’s maturity level and responsibility skills. If they’re still forgetting their lunch box at school, they might lose a cell phone just as easily. Conversely, if they do all their chores and homework without being told, they could be ready. 

• Social and emotional maturity: Are they mature enough to handle the social side of having a phone? Smartphones are internet-enabled, so apps and social media are readily available. Things like group texts or online bullying aren’t always easy to navigate. Do you want them to have access to the internet with a smartphone or would everyone be better served with a flip phone or other text- and call-only device? 

Safety concerns and when a phone becomes necessary

As kids grow into pre-teens and teenagers, they often participate in more after-school sports, extracurricular activities, or jobs to learn how to handle money. For many parents, it’s a natural time to allow phones for safety, so they can communicate and know their kids’ whereabouts. 

But other families may feel safer delaying smartphones to protect kids from things like cyberbullying, phishing, or other online scams. The "right" answer depends on your family’s unique balance between real-world and online safety. 

Preparing your child for their first phone

You probably wouldn't hand your child a dangerous tool without explicit instructions and clear safeguards, but how many families do the groundwork before giving kids a smartphone? 

Be as clear with your expectations as with other house rules like bedtime or curfew. Set expectations, define specific usage rules, and agree on any consequences. 

Maintaining open communication is also key. Talk to your kids about the downsides of cell phones and how to be a responsible digital citizen.

Setting age-appropriate rules for cell phone use

Once you decide your child is ready for a phone, make sure your rules are realistic for their age. You might restrict talking or texting to certain hours of the day, or set a general limit like “no phones after 9 p.m.” 

Keep in mind that different ages require different amounts of sleep to grow and develop properly, so you can factor that into the conversation as well. 

Parental controls and monitoring

We all want to keep our kids healthy and safe, but we can’t watch them 24-7. You can set parental controls on some phones, or install monitoring and parental control apps that alert you of inappropriate content or search queries. 

Social media concerns

This is also an excellent time to consider your family's social media policy. As kids mature, they'll likely want to use social media to connect with friends, share pictures, or post content. Unfortunately, social media sites are prime locations for cyberbullying. A 2023 survey showed  55% of students experienced cyberbullying at least once in their life.  

This doesn't necessarily mean you should keep your kids off social media altogether, but it does require a more nuanced approach. Some platforms like Instagram offer teen-specific accounts that come with extra restrictions.  

But nothing’s foolproof. Coach your kids on how to handle cyberbullies and what to do if something pops up that makes them feel uncomfortable.  

Balancing screen time

Before giving your child a phone, discuss the importance of screen discipline, both time and place. For example, you might allow after-school communication, but using the phone in class is a no-go. 

One recent report found that teens spend the equivalent of a full work week, 40 hours on average, staring at a screen. Reiterate your family values, including the importance of relationships, physical activity, and finding non-screen hobbies. 

You can also install screen time limits on some apps, which restrict usage if the app has been open for a specified period. 

Empower kids and teens to be independent and stay safe

Every parent wants to keep their kids safe, whether on the phone, online, or out in the world. You don’t have to do it alone! Make safety a family affair with Greenlight Infinity, the all-in-one family money and safety app. You can track locations, set up SOS and 911 alerts, and even get driving reports.* Try Greenlight today. 

*Requires mobile data or a WiFi connection, and access to sensory and motion data from cell phone to utilize safety features including family location sharing and driving alerts and reports. Messaging and data rates and other terms may apply.