Phone for 12 year old - when did you get your kid one?

2w ago·1 min read

His friends all have iPhones and he's starting middle school next year. I feel like I'm holding out but honestly at what point is it ridiculous? He says he needs it for group chats and feels left out. I'm leaning toward getting him one but with serious restrictions, maybe one of those parental control apps. What age did you guys think was reasonable? And do those monitoring apps actually work or is it just a false sense of security?

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Comments(3)

DDerekNew Dad2w ago

Middle school is a social minefield. Not saying you have to give in to the iPhone pressure, but maybe look at what your boundaries would be FIRST before deciding. Then when you're ready, you're not flying blind.

RRonRegular2w ago

We got ours at 12 and honestly I don't regret it. The peer pressure is real middle school. We set some solid boundaries with screen time and app restrictions, but being the only kid without a phone can actually make them feel worse.

PPedroRegular2w ago

The iPhone thing is tough because it's the status symbol now. I held out as long as I could with my 1 kid but timing matters. What are the actual concerns you have about it? That might help figure out the right time.