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[News] At what age should kids have smartphones - if at all?

Should kids under 12 have unlimited use of smartphones?

  • Yes

    Votes: 2 2.2%

  • No

    Votes: 71 78.9%

  • Yes but restricted to certain times of the day

    Votes: 17 18.9%
  • Total voters
    90
  • Poll closed .


Zeberdi

Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,941
I found this story a little sad. I have mixed views about kids as young as 11 using smartphones especially at school, in the least I think they should be limited to certain times of the day given most kids seem use their phones to access social media which can have all sorts of mental health risks associated with it.

I can see their use for safety/keeping in touch with parents but do they need to have them whilst on school grounds?

At the end of the day, I think it is up to parents but should a child be disadvantaged/made to feel excluded in an educational environment because they don’t have one?


www.bbc.co.uk

Smartphones: 'I feel guilty for not buying my daughter one for school'

A mum says her daughter came home in tears after she did not have a smartphone to use in a lesson.
www.bbc.co.uk
 




Triggaaar

Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
53,201
Goldstone
Before 12, yes (secondary school starts before that for most). With restrictions obviously.

But more important than restrictions, it should be with education on the apps etc.
 
Last edited:


Anger

Anger

Well-known member
Jul 21, 2017
544
In my view even 28 is a bit too early for them.

I suspect I might be out on a limb there.
 












The Clamp

The Clamp

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 11, 2016
26,206
West is BEST
KZNSeagull said:
You shouldn't need them at all in an educational environment for educational purposes. Smartphones should really be renamed "mobile bullying devices" for kids then maybe they wouldn't be so keen to get one.
Click to expand...
Yep.

Mobile POS.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,182
Faversham
Zeberdi said:
I found this story a little sad. I have mixed views about kids as young as 11 using smartphones especially at school, in the least I think they should be limited to certain times of the day given most kids seem use their phones to access social media which can have all sorts of mental health risks associated with it.

I can see their use for safety/keeping in touch with parents but do they need to have them whilst on school grounds?

At the end of the day, I think it is up to parents but should a child be disadvantaged/made to feel excluded in an educational environment because they don’t have one?


www.bbc.co.uk

Smartphones: 'I feel guilty for not buying my daughter one for school'

A mum says her daughter came home in tears after she did not have a smartphone to use in a lesson.
www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
Stupid for a school to put on a lesson requiring the kids have a smartphone.

That has nothing to do with whether kids should have a phone. Ours (age 13 going on 14) has a good phone and has her nose in it all day. As others have doubtless said, yes with restrictions.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
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Oct 8, 2003
56,182
Faversham
The Clamp said:
If children require a smartphone to do to class work, the school should have a stock of them and they should be issued by the school at start of lesson and taken back at end of lesson.
Click to expand...
Precisely.
 






S

stewardxxx

Active member
Oct 7, 2008
261
Brighton
We got ours mobiles when they entered year 6 as they would be walking to and from school. The devices were restricted to just SMS and Phone apps between the hours of 9 and 3 and also after 9.30PM on weekdays (the night time cut off has been extended as they age).

I am in agreement with a previous poster about them being mobile bullying devices. Fortunately, my eldest is approaching 18 and it seems it is nowhere near as toxic as when she was younger. I will be keeping an eye on the youngest as she wouldn't say boo to a goose and would struggle if cyber bullying rears it's head.
 


beorhthelm

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
36,025
there two seperate issues here: having a phone and expectation of a phone for a class.

having a phone at secondary age or even younger is fine with a bit of supervision. i suppose not all will supervise, but nothing you can do there.

expectation of phone for a lesson is daft and full of challenges: do they have a phone, is it up to spec, does it have data, etc. and goes against every discussion about keeping phones out of classrooms. generally no lesson should be planned without school providing all necessary equipment. also homework, dont assume everyone has a laptop or access to online.
 


The Clamp

The Clamp

Well-known member
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Jan 11, 2016
26,206
West is BEST
Phones are more prevalent.

Learning difficulties, attention problems, and neuro diversity is more prevalent.

Any correlation?
 




Commander

Commander

Arrogant Prat
NSC Patron
Apr 28, 2004
13,581
London
Will get my eldest a smartphone the Summer before he starts secondary school. And I will definitely check it regularly and restrict it as necessary.

Sad as it is, today’s secondary school kids without phones will be the weird kids who didn’t have TV’s when we were kids.
 


jcdenton08

jcdenton08

Offended Liver Sausage
NSC Patron
Oct 17, 2008
14,563
It’s called parenting. Saying no to your darling cum sprouts. Something lots of parents struggle with nowadays. Not all, but lots.
 


B

Bodian

Well-known member
May 3, 2012
14,275
Cumbria
I'm 58. Haven't got one yet.

Although work have forced one on me, mainly for two-step authorisation to use the computer at home!
 


Zeberdi

Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,941
Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Stupid for a school to put on a lesson requiring the kids have a smartphone.

That has nothing to do with whether kids should have a phone. Ours (age 13 going on 14) has a good phone and has her nose in it all day. As others have doubtless said, yes with restrictions.
Click to expand...
Well no but the thread asks several questions.

The BBC story is just a hook to ask broader question about mobile phone use if you look at the poll answers

My own feeling is that kids shouldn’t have unlimited use of a smartphone under the age of 12 and that they don’t need them when on school property as I suggested in the OP.

If teachers want to use mobile devices for internet access in a lesson, then the school should provide them, hand them out at the beginning of the class then collect them again. ( If they can’t afford them and need kids to find countries then use a frickin globe fhs! 🙂)
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,182
Faversham
Zeberdi said:
Well no but the thread asks several questions.

The BBC story is just a hook to ask broader question about mobile phone use if you look at the poll answers

My own feeling is that kids shouldn’t have unlimited use of a smartphone under the age of 12 and that they don’t need them when on school property as I suggested in the OP.

If teachers want to use mobile devices for internet access in a lesson, then the school should provide them, hand them out at the beginning of the class then collect them again. ( If they can’t afford them and need kids to find countries then use a frickin globe fhs! 🙂)
Click to expand...
Fair enough. You know how easily I get wrongfooted :wink:

Agree with your assessment.
 


Mustafa II

Mustafa II

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2022
1,824
Hove
Adults are bad enough. A MAJORITY of adults, not even an exaggeration, possibly even an extreme majority, are ADDICTED to the dopamine responses felt by clicking through their numerous apps. Whether it's social media (NSC counts, but mostly TikTok, Reddit, FaceBook, Insta etc), or banking apps (I know people who continually check their investments, banks, pension performance), games or whatever.... it has become an epidemic that is destroying relationships, communities and mental health.

Teaching children this behaviour from a young age is going to lead to a mental health disaster unseen before, and destruction of our social contract.

We should ALL be taught to use our smart phones less, not just children.
 


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