It is one of the most common questions in conversations between parents. When a child starts asking for a mobile phone, usually around the age of 11 or 12, the decision stops being technological and becomes deeply educational.
We live in a society where digital communication is part of everyday life. A mobile phone is not just entertainment; it is contact, organisation and social belonging. But it is also unlimited access to content, stimuli and digital dynamics that are not always designed with children in mind.
That is why the real discussion around the right age for a child to have a smartphone is not only about numbers, but about maturity, context and the type of device being introduced.
Factors to consider when deciding whether it is the right time
Not all children mature at the same pace. Chronological age matters, but emotional maturity is decisive.
Before taking the step, it is worth considering aspects such as:
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Their level of responsibility in other areas of life
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How they manage frustration and social comparison
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Their current use of other screens
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The genuine need for communication due to travel or extracurricular activities
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Their ability to respect agreed rules at home
A mobile phone should not be given because of social pressure. The fact that others have one does not mean it is the right moment for your particular family.
It is also important to understand that access to a conventional smartphone involves much more than calls and messages. It means exposure to social media, constant notifications, adult content and systems designed to capture attention continuously.
From a cognitive and emotional development perspective, this is significant.
What experts recommend and what families actually do
Various child psychologists, paediatricians and digital education specialists agree that unrestricted access to a smartphone should ideally be delayed until the age of 13 or 14, when a young person has greater capacity to self-regulate and understand the risks of the digital environment.
International mental health organisations have warned about the impact that early exposure to social media can have on self-esteem, sleep and attention. The pre-adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to immediate reward stimuli such as notifications, likes or viral content. In fact, building healthy digital habits in children and teenagers has become one of the main recommendations from experts in education and digital wellbeing.
However, family reality does not always align with these recommendations. Many families choose to introduce a mobile phone earlier, often for practical reasons or for social integration.
This is where adult responsibility becomes crucial. If the moment arrives earlier than experts advise, the device should be adapted to that developmental stage.
It is not about relying solely on parental control apps that can be disabled. Nor is it about offering full access to social media and hoping that self-regulation will simply develop on its own.
Many families begin by looking for the best mobile phones for children without Internet access as a first solution, trying to reduce risks without completely isolating their children from the digital world. And that makes sense. However, not all devices labelled “without Internet” provide the necessary balance between functionality and safety.
The alternative is to choose a digital environment designed from the outset for that age.
At Balance Phone, we have spent years developing devices specifically designed for children and teenagers. Our own operating system, Balance OS, removes social media, addictive games, gambling platforms and adult content by default. It is not an app that can be removed. It forms part of the system itself.
A young person can make calls, use WhatsApp, check maps or listen to music, but within a stable ecosystem that prioritises safety and focus. This allows a first contact with technology without exposing them to digital dynamics they are not yet ready to manage.
From our experience working with families who have gone through this process, we know that the conflict is rarely the device itself, but the type of access it provides.
The right question is not only what is the right age for a child to have a mobile phone.
The real question is what type of mobile phone is appropriate for that age.
Educating children in technology is not about prohibiting or giving in to pressure. It is about guiding with judgement, information and responsibility. And that decision begins long before handing over the first device.
