When should kids have smartphones? New survey reveals parental opinions

A new YouGov Survey: Self-serve polled 1,000 US adults on when children should be allowed to have smartphones. For younger children, 6% of the general public and 16% of parents believe children under 9 should have a smartphone. When it comes to teenagers, 12% of all adults and 9% of parents think the appropriate age is 15, while 14% of both groups agree on age 16. Interestingly, 10% of US adults and 7% of parents feel that children should not have a smartphone at all before they turn 18.

The survey also explored perceptions of smartphones' impact on children. Half of Americans consider smartphones to be a negative influence (49%), while only 15% see them positively. Among parents, 43% view smartphones negatively, with a slightly higher 27% seeing them in a positive light. Neutral opinions were held by 33% of adults and 30% of parents, reflecting mixed feelings about the role of smartphones in children's lives.

These findings indicate that while there is some consensus on the appropriate age range for children to have smartphones, opinions on the devices' impact remain divided. Parents tend to be slightly more positive about the influence of smartphones, perhaps recognizing the benefits of connectivity and convenience despite potential risks.

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Methodology: YouGov polled 1,000 US adults online on May 24, 2024. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, race, political affiliation, education level and region. The margin of error is 3% for the overall sample.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio