Source: Common Sense Media
Published: March 2022
Children and smartphones
When is the right age to give your child a smartphone?
According to a Common Sense Media survey, the majority of American parents choose to give their children a smartphone between the ages of 12 and 13.
In 2021, 71% of surveyed children aged 12 said that they own their own smartphone, compared to 41% of the same demographic surveyed in 2015.
Percentage of surveyed children who report having their own smartphone
AGE: 8
2015: 11%
2021: 31%
AGE: 9
2015: 15%
2021: 32%
AGE: 10
2015: 19%
2021: 42%
AGE: 11
2015: 32%
2021: 37%
AGE: 12
2015: 41%
2021: 71%
AGE: 13
2015: 50%
2021: 70%
AGE: 14
2015: 59%
2021: 91%
AGE: 15
2015: 71%
2021: 86%
AGE: 16
2015: 73%
2021: 90%
AGE: 17
2015: 74%
2021: 97%
AGE: 18
2015: 77%
2021: 93%
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Thanks for sharing, Danny! It's so interesting that while in 2015 the percentage increased as the age increased, in 2021 it's not always the case. For example, more 14 year olds than 16 year olds had a smartphone and same goes between 17 and 18 year olds. That's odd, I wonder what's causing it. Some kind of social or generational factors, I'd assume...
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