What age should a kid get a phone?

What the American Academy of Pediatrics says

In an expert Q&A, the AAP says research doesn't point to one perfect age when kids are ready for a smartphone.^[1] The "12 to 13" figure you may see on AAP pages is what participants in a study the AAP cites recommended, not an AAP recommendation.^[1] The AAP says getting a phone does not mean automatically getting social media, and suggests starting with texting only.^[3] For social media specifically, the AAP suggests waiting until children are at least 13.^[4] It notes that the age 13 used by platforms comes from federal communications policy, and that this age does not seem to be based on any specific sign of developmental readiness.^[4]

What the U.S. Surgeon General says

The Surgeon General's 2026 warning on the harms of screen use advises families to delay giving children access to tablets, smartphones, and social media as long as possible.^[2] It adds that parents and caregivers can also delay access to different devices by age.^[5] The earlier 2023 advisory on social media also named no age, and noted that 13 is commonly the minimum age social media platforms use in the U.S.^[6]

What recent research shows

A 2026 study in Pediatrics of 10,588 children found that owning a smartphone was associated with depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep in early adolescence.^[7] That study shows an association, not proof that phones cause these outcomes.^[7] The Surgeon General's 2026 warning cites evidence that children who got their first smartphone between ages 12 and 13 were more likely to show signs of clinically significant mental health problems by age 13 than those who still didn't have one.^[2] In a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 68% of parents said children should be at least 12 before having a smartphone of their own.^[8] Common Sense Media's 2025 census found that nearly 1 in 4 children have a personal cellphone by age 8.^[9]

What advocacy groups ask parents to do

Wait Until 8th, an advocacy group, asks parents to pledge to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade.^[10] Its site says a basic phone or smartwatch for calls and texts fits within the pledge.^[10] In the UK, the advocacy group Smartphone Free Childhood asks parents to delay a smartphone until at least 14 and social media until 16.^[11]

If your child isn't ready for a smartphone

The AAP suggests talking with your child about other options, like a flip phone or watch that allows communication without all the digital baggage.^[12] It also notes that smartwatches and starter smartphones don't allow access to certain apps or features, though they may cost more.^[1]

Keep reading

• Smartwatch or phone first?
• Devices for ages 9 to 11
• Devices for ages 12 to 14
• Safe phones for kids, compared
• Kids' smartwatches, compared