A lot of kids these days start begging their parents for their own smartphone at a pretty early age, but it seems most parents are able to hold out. So, what age are kids getting their own smartphones?
According to a new Pew Research poll, 23% of parents say their child has their own smartphone. While 68% of parents think a kid should be at least 12 before getting one, it seems plenty of parents are giving in earlier than that.
Overall, 59% of parents say their child, between 11 and 12, has their own smartphone, while 29% let their kids get their own between the ages of 8 and 10. As for younger kids, 12% of parents say their kids between the ages of 5 and 7 have their own phone, and 5% say the same for their child under the age of 5.
And while some kids may not be getting their own phones until they turn 12, kids are certainly exposed to screens at a much younger age. The poll finds that 61% of parents say their kids ages 12 and younger either use or interact with smartphones, with 38% saying that’s the case for a child under the age of 2.
As for other screens, 90% of parents say their kids under 12 watch TV, with 68% saying they spend time on a tablet.