Kids and Smartphones: Statistics on First Phones, Use and Rules

For today’s parents, one of the biggest decisions in raising a child is knowing when they are ready for their first cell phone. While a smartphone can provide greater independence and easier communication, it also introduces new concerns around screen time and online safety.

We surveyed parents of children ages 10 and older to find out how parents are navigating this increasingly common milestone.

Average Child Gets Their First Cell Phone at Age 11

The majority of parents (84%) with children 10 and older say their child has a cell phone. Our survey found the average age a child gets their first cell phone is 11. Among them, 74% of parents say they put restrictions on their child’s phone when they first gave it to them, while 26% did not.

Parents reported that their children got their first phones at the following ages:

• 8 years old and younger: 14%
• 9 years old: 10%
• 10 years old: 22%
• 11 years old: 15%
• 12 years old: 18%
• 13 years old: 13%
• 14 years old and older: 8%

“Children may be ready for their first cell phone at different ages, depending on individual factors like developmental stage and personal responsibility,” says Alyssa Cohen, MD, MSc, pediatrician and health services researcher at Lurie Children's. “Parents can open the conversation about getting a cell phone by listening to kids' priorities and concerns."

Nearly 2 in 5 (37%) think their child got their first phone too early, 43% felt pressured to get their child a phone sooner than they wanted, and 93% of parents surveyed believe kids are getting phones at younger ages than they should. So when is the right time? 1 in 5 believe 12-years-old is the most appropriate age.

Top Reasons for a Child’s First Phone

1. Safety/emergency communication - (84%)
2. Child wanted a phone - (45%)
3. Child walking or traveling independently - (38%)

Parents report the biggest benefits of a child having a phone are peace of mind about their safety (44%) and easier communication (38%). Too much screen time is the biggest challenge, cited by 43% of parents, followed by concerns about online safety (10%).

77% of Parents Are Concerned About Smartphones’ Impact on Children’s Mental Health

When it comes to how parents are managing their children’s phones, many are taking an active role. Four in 10 (40%) regularly check their child’s cell phone activity, while another 31% check occasionally. Only 6% say they do not monitor their child’s phone use at all.

The most common rules parents are setting around phone use include:

1. Parent approval before downloading apps (58%)
2. Location sharing required (56%)
3. No phones after bedtime (56%)
4. Parents have passwords (52%)
5. No phones during meals (46%)

More than 3 in 4 (77%) are concerned about their child’s phone use impacting their mental health. Among children who have a phone, 14% of parents say their child's mental health declined, 12% say their child began misbehaving more frequently, and 20% say their child has become more independent since getting a phone.

“The conversation should not stop once your child has started using a cell phone - it is important to check in regularly about what's working and not working,” says Dr. Cohen. “Parents can learn about apps that their child is using and review parental control settings, and children can have a safe space to raise any questions or issues.”

Parents Support Stricter Smartphone and Social Media Rules

For many parents, setting limits on smartphone use extends beyond the home. Nearly 3 in 4 (74%) believe children shouldn’t have unrestricted smartphone access until at least age 16, while 76% think schools should ban smartphones during the day. In fact, 85% support laws restricting children’s access to social media platforms.

“Parents have a great opportunity to support children in healthy and developmentally appropriate digital media engagement,” says Dr. Cohen. “This starts with modeling safe media habits from an early age. The Family Media Use plan from the American Academy of Pediatrics provides a template that can grow with your family to support your priorities related to media use for everyone in the household.”

Parents also favor waiting before allowing kids to have social media accounts: 30% think children should be allowed to have social media at 16, while 24% think they should wait until 18.

At the same time, some parents recognize that setting expectations starts with their own behavior, as 1 in 3 admit they don’t always model appropriate phone use for their children.

Methodology

In August 2026, we conducted a survey of 1,003 parents with children at least 10-years-old from across the U.S. about phone use. Among respondents, 50% identified as male and 50% as female. Respondents had an average age of 42.

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Fair Use

When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing Lurie Children’s.