Appropriate Age to Introduce a Mobile Device

Question: What is an appropriate age to introduce a phone or other type of communication devices, like a watch with texting capabilities, to children/adolescents? Most of what I have heard is to wait as long as possible, and I know it is different based on individual child and family. But what would you recommend? 

Answer: It is normal to be concerned about giving your child their first smartphone. While smartphones provide access to greater independence and communication with friends, they also give access to a wide range of apps and websites that aren’t intended for children and teens. Giving your child their first phone is a decision that requires some planning and conversation. With a good combination of education, expectation setting, conversations and safety features, families can avoid some of the pitfalls of a first phone.  

What do teens think?  

Overall, research doesn’t point to one perfect age when kids are ready for a smartphone. A recent review of many studies on this topic found that, in general, parents and teens believe that deciding when to provide a smartphone should be based on developmental readiness, maturity levels, and their child’s practical need for a phone as they gain independence. Sometimes this coincides with transitions like entering middle school or beginning to travel without their parents.  

When teens were interviewed about this topic, they agreed that there's no single perfect age to get a phone. They thought that smartphone readiness has more to do with their own levels of responsibility and whether their parents were ready to help them create rules and navigate their relationship with the phone. In one survey of 765 teens and young adults, participants recommended that children receive their first phone between 12 and 13 years old, when it becomes a necessity for independence from parents.   

Both youth and their parents describe that there are growing social norms around smartphone ownership and access. Teens say that access to smartphones allows them to stay connected with their peers, and restrictions and limits on phone use, or not owning a phone at all, might be a barrier to social experiences and might cause them to be excluded. Because of this, parents say they feel inclined to provide a smartphone to support their child’s social relationships.  It is normal for adolescents to want to fit in with their friends, and one of the benefits of access to technology and social media includes opportunities for social connections and social support. 

What are the effects of getting a smartphone early? 

The research on the risks of getting a first smartphone at an early age is nuanced, with some studies finding early smartphone use may have some negative effects on health and wellbeing: 

• Some research suggests that getting a phone earlier might be associated with decreases in wellbeing, increases in obesity, and not getting enough sleep, but other research found that getting a smartphone at an earlier age does not increase their likelihood of developing depression, loneliness, or lower life satisfaction later in adolescence.  
• One study found that children who received their first smartphone between the ages of 6 and 10 or after 13 reported finding it harder to start and maintain friendships with their peers, while those who received their first smartphone between the ages of 11 and 13 were better able to develop strong friendships. This suggests there might be a “sweet spot” for getting their first phone when it comes to having positive interactions with their peers. The researchers suspect that getting a phone too early might limit a child’s in-person interactions, while getting one too late might mean they are missing out on opportunities to interact with their peers in the digital space, which may make them feel excluded. 
• Another study in California followed 263 Latinx children for 5 years, finding that the average age of getting their first phone was 11.6 years. Compared to kids who got a phone when older, those who got a phone younger than 11.6 years did not have higher rates of sleep problems, school problems, or worse depression symptoms.  

While the research is unclear about how the age of first phone use impacts teens, we know that things like positive family and friend relationships, predictable home routines, and appropriate school supports are major driving forces of well-being.  

Note: AAP recommends families delay access to social media until age 13 as the risks tend to outweigh the benefits. As parents consider whether to allow their child to have a smartphone, they should make decisions about access to social media and apps separately. 

What are some signs of phone readiness?   

Ultimately, you know your child best. Deciding when they should get their first phone depends on their developmental readiness. Curious about signs that your child is ready for a phone? Ask questions like:  

• Is your child responsible about things like homework?   
• Are they able to manage different priorities, like chores? 
• Do they say sorry if they hurt a friend’s feelings?  
• How well do they follow other tech rules?   
• How does your child navigate challenging social situations? 
• Could access to new media impact their social anxiety or self-esteem?
• Do they come to you or another trusted adult if they have questions or concerns?
• Are you as a parent ready to help support them?  

If you don’t think your child is ready for a smartphone but do want them to be able to communicate with you and their friends, see if your phone carrier has a flip phone model that allows calls and texts only. There are also smartwatches or starter smartphones that don’t allow access to certain apps or features, but these may be more expensive. Think about getting a device that aligns with your family’s needs.   

To learn more about the signs of readiness, please see this article by Dr. Jenny Radesky.  

Before you hand over the phone, be sure to:   

• Talk to your child about your family’s rules and expectations. Some families use a phone agreement/contract to set expectations for when, where and how the phone can be used. This might include an agreement that parents know the password and will occasionally check texts to check for any bullying or other concerns.  
• Remind your child that getting a cell phone does not equal getting social media. Make decisions about each app separately.   
• Start slow. With a first phone, you can start with fewer apps, no browser, and stricter time limits so that kids don't build a habit of always being on their phone. As your child develops more maturity and responsibility, you can discuss access to more apps and longer time allowances. 
• Set expectations about phone use/non-use in the bedroom, at the dinner table and during homework time. Ideally, all family members will keep their agreed-upon boundaries. Regardless of when your child gets their first phone, it is important that phone use does not crowd out important health behaviors like physical activity and sleep. 
• Set privacy, content, contact, download and downtime settings and explain to your child why this is important to avoid running into creepy or inappropriate content.  
• Talk about how it’s going every few weeks. If your child is struggling with their phone getting in the way of sleep or contributing to arguments, problem-solve with them about what needs to change. Encourage your child to come to you if they have questions or concerns about anything they encounter while using their phone. 

Additional Resources:   

For more information about determining phone readiness, we recommend reviewing these previous portal responses and resources:  

Portal Responses 

• Social media and sleep - includes tips for parents to ensure digital devices aren’t getting in the way of sleep for children and teens 
• Online safety plans - offers parenting strategies to promote better teen self-regulation  
• Social media and the brain - describes what we know about how social media impacts brain development 

Other Resources 

Your child’s first phone: are they ready? A Healthychildren.org article by Dr. Jenny Radesky 

Smartphone alternatives – Provides information on basic communication device options and factors to consider before getting your child a smartphone 

First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette – Provides information on how to cultivate thinking and responsibility skills around smartphones, designed to be easily understood by kids and teens  

For more resources designed specifically for teens, check out our Teen Wellness Toolkit, which includes quick tips for managing the content on your social media feed, a Calm Toolbox, and what the research says about the good and bad of social media. 

References  

• Albacete-Maza, J., Casanovas Combalia, X., & Montañola-Sales, C. (2025). Determinants of early smartphone ownership: a research gap in the study of problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1179.  
• Barzilay, R., Pimentel, S. D., Tran, K. T., Visoki, E., Pagliaccio, D., & Auerbach, R. P. (2026). Smartphone ownership, age of smartphone acquisition, and health outcomes in early adolescence. Pediatrics, 157(1), e2025072941.  
• Beyens, I., Pouwels, J. L., Van Driel, I. I., Keijsers, L., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2020). The effect of social media on well-being differs from adolescent to adolescent. Scientific Reports, 10(1). 
• Charmaraman, L., Lynch, A. D., Richer, A. M., & Grossman, J. M. (2022). Associations of early social media initiation on digital behaviors and the moderating role of limiting use. Computers in human behavior, 127, 107053.    
• Gerosa, T., Losi, L., & Gui, M. (2024). The age of the smartphone: An analysis of social predictors of children’s age of access and potential consequences over time. Youth & Society, 56(6), 1117-1143.  
• Moreno, M. A., Binger, K., Zhao, Q., Eickhoff, J., Minich, M., & Uhls, Y. T. (2022). Digital Technology and Media Use by Adolescents: Latent Class Analysis. JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 5(2), e35540.   
• Moreno, M. A., Kerr, B. R., Jenkins, M., Lam, E., & Malik, F. S. (2019). Perspectives on Smartphone Ownership and Use by Early Adolescents. The Journal of adolescent health: official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 64(4), 437–442.    
• Orben, A., Przybylski, A. K., Blakemore, S. J., & Kievit, R. A. (2022). Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media. Nature communications, 13(1), 1649.    
• Orgilés, M., Ruiz-Soria, L., Amorós-Reche, V., & Espada, J. P. (2026). Does Timing Matter? Age of First Mobile Phone Acquisition and Psychological Outcomes in Middle and Late Adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1-11.  
• Richter, A., Adkins, V., & Selkie, E. (2022). Youth Perspectives on the Recommended Age of Mobile Phone Adoption: Survey Study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 5(4), e40704.    
• Sun, X., Haydel, K. F., Matheson, D., Desai, M., & Robinson, T. N. (2023). Are mobile phone ownership and age of acquisition associated with child adjustment? A 5‐year prospective study among low‐income Latinx children. Child Development, 94(1), 303–314.    
• Vaterlaus, J. M., Aylward, A., Tarabochia, D., & Martin, J. D. (2021). “A smartphone made my life easier”: An exploratory study on age of adolescent smartphone acquisition and well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 114, 106563.  
• van der Meulen, M., Veldhuis, J., Braams, B. R., Peters, S., Konijn, E. A., & Crone, E. A. (2017). Brain activation upon ideal-body media exposure and peer feedback in late adolescent girls. Cognitive, affective, & behavioral neuroscience, 17(4), 712-723.   

Age: 8-14 

Topics: Age, phone ready, individual child, social media initiation, smartphone ownership, age of acquisition 

Role: Parent