When is the Right Time for a Smartphone?

One of the most common questions we hear from Maranatha parents in the Junior School is: When should I give my child a smartphone?

While every family is different, research is becoming increasingly clear that the age a child receives their first smartphone matters, and waiting longer can make a meaningful difference.

“We are facing the least flourishing generation since records began…Delaying a child’s access to a smartphone is the single best parenting strategy in the modern age.” Jonathan Haidt

I hope some of you have heard of Jonathan Haidt, the author of the seminal text, Anxious Generation. This book has changed the conversation on smartphones and social media globally.

Haidt speaks about 4 norms necessary to turn things around:

no phones until 8th grade in the USA (age 14)
no social media before 16
phone free schools
more independence in the real world

If you haven’t read the book, I strongly recommend you put it on your reading list or listen to a podcast where he is interviewed.

What the Data Shows

Currently, the average age children receive a smartphone is around 11 years old. However, studies tracking young people over time show a clear trend:

“the earlier a child receives a smartphone, the higher the risk to wellbeing and each year of delay offers better outcomes. Published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, the study analysed data from 100,000+ young people across 168 countries (July 2025). Lead researcher, Dr. Tara Thiagarajan

“Individuals who received their first smartphone before age 13 are significantly more likely to experience distress, poor sleep, low self-worth, emotional instability, and strained family relationships. A major global study, in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analysed data from over 100,000 young adults (aged 18–24) across multiple countries.

The broader data also highlights the impact smartphones can have on family life and wellbeing:

50% of teens feel addicted to their smartphones
54% of parents regret giving their child a smartphone and wish they had waited longer
55% of parents report phone use causes significant conflict at home
33% of parents have been moved to tears by their child’s phone use

Why Waiting Matters

We call them ‘smartphones’, but it’s a pretty misleading name. It would be more accurate to call them handheld supercomputers, that put the whole of the internet in your pocket 24/7.

Former Google ethicist Tristan Harris refers to smartphones as “slot machines in kids’ pockets, designed to exploit their brain chemistry”.

I’m not a psychologist but let me tell you a bit about the brain. Early adolescence, ages 10-14 is a critical time for brain development. Whatever kids do most during this time shapes those brain circuits for life.

“Whatever kids do most during this time shapes those circuits for life..”

A Practical Approach for Families

Despite the risks, delaying is currently very hard, and to those whose children already have devices in primary school, there is no judgment here, just acknowledgment of the challenging choice between a socially isolated child and the possession of an addictive device.

The question is not simply if, but when and how. There are plenty of other alternatives. If your child needs a phone, consider a simple phone that only has the ability to call and text a select group of numbers. The number of good alternatives is rapidly growing.

There are many alternatives, here are some examples:

These options allow children to stay connected when needed, without immediate access to apps, social media and the wider internet.

In Conclusion

A shared community commitment to delay providing children with smartphones can significantly strengthen collective acceptance and support improved wellbeing for all families.

What the research does suggest is simple:

There is now overwhelming research that connects the rise of a phone-based childhood with the mental health crisis we are seeing for teens, with the work of Jean Twenge and Jonathan Haidt leading in this space.

Even delaying smartphone access by a year or two can have a positive impact on a child’s wellbeing.

As a Maranatha community, we encourage thoughtful, informed decisions that allow our children to grow, develop and enjoy their childhood for as long as possible.

Jenny Rus
Director of Junior School

Maranatha Christian School

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