At what age should kids be given their own mobile?

26 September 2016

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Times are a-changing and what was once a novelty is now commonplace. Of course it depends on the child, but we want to know what age you think is acceptable for a child to have their first mobile phone. Perhaps you think they're a tool that allows kids more freedom. Or are they just another digital distraction? So how old do you think they should be before they get one?

Times are a-changing and what was once a novelty is now commonplace.

Of course it depends on the child, but we want to know what age you think is acceptable for a child to have their first mobile phone.

Perhaps you think they're a tool that allows kids more freedom. Or are they just another digital distraction?

So how old do you think they should be before they get one?

Results

Parents of under-18s (8255 votes)

Five or under		33 votes (0%)
6		28 votes (0%)
7		54 votes (1%)
8		181 votes (2%)
9		260 votes (3%)
10		1514 votes (18%)
11		3468 votes (42%)
12		1471 votes (18%)
13		614 votes (7%)
14		270 votes (3%)
15		119 votes (1%)
16		174 votes (2%)
17+		69 votes (1%)

Parents of now grown-up children (3321 votes)

Five or under		20 votes (1%)
6		10 votes (0%)
7		19 votes (1%)
8		40 votes (1%)
9		46 votes (1%)
10		385 votes (12%)
11		1168 votes (35%)
12		720 votes (22%)
13		303 votes (9%)
14		223 votes (7%)
15		95 votes (3%)
16		152 votes (5%)
17+		140 votes (4%)

Not had kids (3415 votes)

Five or under		45 votes (1%)
6		10 votes (0%)
7		19 votes (1%)
8		63 votes (2%)
9		47 votes (1%)
10		369 votes (11%)
11		784 votes (23%)
12		699 votes (20%)
13		495 votes (14%)
14		296 votes (9%)
15		186 votes (5%)
16		229 votes (7%)
17+		173 votes (5%)

                   14,991 votes received.

We try to use technology to limit voting to one per person. Occasionally, this may erroneously block a few people's votes (eg, from shared offices). Apologies for that.