The right age to get a mobile phone for your child as Christmas shopping takes off

Christmas shopping is well under way and many youngsters may be hoping for a mobile phone under their tree this year.

If your child is asking for their first phone, you may be wondering if they are ready for it. What is the right age to buy a mobile for your children?

According to Ofcom, 97% of youngsters have their own mobile phone by the age of 12. Many get them when they start secondary school or when they start to make their own way to and from school.

READ MORE: Some of Tyne and Wear Metro’s first customers take a trip down memory lane

READ MORE: Heartbreak as 'selfless' Stockton mum of two loses cancer battle aged just 30

Handing over a device also brings with it various concerns, such as the use of social media and the impact it could have on young people. Online bullying can also happen through phones.

Meanwhile, the Technology Secretary has said that a social media ban for under-16s is "on the table" if companies don't take action to protect children. Peter Kyle made the warning while preparing to tell Ofcom to be more assertive with tech firms, as both he and the regulator ready themselves for new legal powers in the Online Safety Act to commence from the start of 2025.

The Act will see new safety duties placed on social media platforms for the first time, requiring them to protect users, and in particular children, from harmful content. This will include a crackdown on under-13s having access to age-restricted content.

Mr Kyle suggested the UK would have to move to "another level of regulation" if tech companies do not get together to enforce the Act. The Technology Secretary said he did not want to pursue further law changes until he sees how the Online Safety Act works.

Get all the latest money news and budgeting tips from Chronicle Live with our free newsletter

But he signalled he had been speaking to politicians from Australia where social media restrictions for under-16s have been considered. Asked if the UK could push its age limits up to 16, Mr Kyle said: "When it comes to keeping young people safe, everything is on the table."

Now Internet Matters, which helps families to stay safe online, has offered advice for parents. Ghislaine Bombusa, digital and content director, said: "We know that keeping children safe in an ever-changing digital world is a real worry for many parents and a question many of them grapple with is ‘when is the right age for a child to own a smartphone?’

"Behind this question are many worries about the effect smartphone use can have on children and their wellbeing. Common concerns among parents are the impact on a child’s mental health, exposure to harmful content and smartphones being addictive, reducing attention spans and potentially blocking meaningful experiences.

"The answer to the question of when to give your child a smartphone depends on different factors, including your child’s maturity, their needs, and – the part many don’t usually give a second thought to – your family’s approach to digital safety. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the question, but there are some key considerations that can guide this decision."

Ghislaine says first identify why your child wants or needs a phone. Is it for safety, to stay in touch while travelling to school, or for accessing educational tools? Or is it because all their friends have one? "Internet Matters questions whether primary school children have any need for a connected device with unrestricted access to apps and games, so a clear understanding of the purpose will help determine whether it’s the right time," she says.

Decide if your child is ready

The group says: "You know your child best, so ask yourself questions – can they handle the responsibilities of owning a device? Do they have the maturity to make good choices online, and will they keep it safe? If the answers are no, then it’s probably worth waiting a while and helping them get to a place where they are more confident in those areas. If you decide your child is not ready for a smartphone specifically, you can also consider a dumbphone, also known as a feature or brick phone."

Set up safe

Establish and discuss online safety rules before giving your child a phone. This includes setting parental controls on your broadband and any internet-enabled devices. Most apps have their own parental controls and privacy settings so you can customise what your child can see and do online. Internetmatters.org offers step-by-step guides to set up the right controls and privacy settings on all platforms and apps. Once you have controls and settings in place, talk to your child about the risks they may encounter and how to deal with them i.e., what should they do if they view content they feel unsure about?

Agree the ground rules

Discuss and agree with your child how they will use their smartphone. What apps will you allow them to have? Can they download apps independently? Agreeing on ground rules can help set clear boundaries and expectations for smartphone use, covering issues such as screen time, respectful communication, and safe behaviour online. You can take a look at this Family Agreement to help your family set some rules.