Introduction
Not long ago, the debate was on whether or not children should be given full access to car keys. Today, guardians and parents face an even trickier question: At what age is it considered okay to allow a child to own a smartphone? Smartphone use among children has been an issue that has attracted debates from different parties for quite some time. Today, children continue to enjoy unlimited access to digital content thanks to the rapid growth and development of the smartphone industry. Information is readily available for those who can purchase and operate these devices, and such accessibility has become a reason both for concern and encouragement among interested parties, including scholars, researchers, teachers, and parents. According to an article by Nancy Sales, the majority of children who use smartphones today are 12-year-olds. Also, since adults are solely responsible for the safety of their kids, they give them smartphones as a means to keep them engaged and out of trouble (Sales). Thus, adults feel that by being on their smartphones, children get to stay away from mischief.
Presently, many guardians and parents are wondering what the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone is and how they can go about choosing the right devices for them. Children are getting smartphones every day, and it is essential for guardians, parents, and teachers to closely monitor the impact that these gadgets are having on their children’s development. Most of them argue that children should be allowed to get smartphones only after they learn restraint, while some of the parents contend that the sooner they begin using smartphones, the better. Ideally, it is important to weigh both the negative and positive effects of smartphone use before allowing children to own these devices. Children are highly susceptible and impressionable human beings, so parents and guardians need to monitor how smartphones affect their lives.
Body
Smartphone devices offer unlimited access to the internet and all the information contained on the platform. However, unlike driving a car, there is no legal guideline for guardians and parents to decide whether their children are ready to own and use smartphones. Research has found that problematic behaviors and emotional intelligence among children have a direct link to smartphone use (Cho et al., pg. 307). Children between the ages of one to six are prone to smartphone addiction because of a lack of parental assessment of smartphone use. Because smartphones require the user to be more dynamically involved while operating the device, young children often find themselves spending more time than is necessary on these devices. Moreover, parents tend to use smartphones as substitutes for caregivers, and this leaves the children susceptible to all kinds of information contained on the internet.
According to Melanie Curtin, children get their first smartphone devices at an average age of 10.3 years old. The article incorporates views from Bill Gates and James Steyer, who are both media and technology experts. Both agree that children need to demonstrate a certain level of maturity before being allowed to own a smartphone (Curtin). For some parents, this means enabling the children to get smartphones only after they start high school. However, it is also important to note that a kid’s maturity or responsibility level is more important than his or her age. It would be unfair to deny a child his or her wish of owning a smartphone solely on the basis that they are yet to join high school.
In recent years, smartphone use among children has drawn the attention of researchers who are specialized in child psychology. It is no surprise that most children put these devices on their wish list, replacing well-known simple gifts such as dolls and basketballs. According to Amy Williams, as a child ages, they need to be aware of modern advances, and they do this by practicing how to use different forms of technology. However, psychologists are concerned that the constant use of technology at a young age tends to rewire the children’s brains (Williams). The increased screen time inevitably alters a child’s learning capabilities and harms the regions of the brain responsible for concentration, learning, and reading. Also, their emotional development and communication skills are negatively affected by the use of smartphones at an early age. In extreme cases, these children lose their sense of empathy.
However, the proof that smartphone use is linked to adverse developmental outcomes in children is not concrete. In some cases, technology and smartphones are beneficial to children. For instance, a child can quickly develop multitasking skills, conduct web searches, and improve visual acuity. Many researchers and concerned parties feel that technology has a vital role to play in a child’s life. Edward Winkfield argues that children are becoming more resourceful and skillful thanks to these smart devices. They also learn how to be self-sufficient and are adequately prepared to handle future technologies. Thus, the learning benefits that are available through smartphone use cannot be ignored (Winkfield). I have personally seen children as young as eight years old guide each other on how and where to access educational material, which is presented as fun rhymes and games on websites such as YouTube. The ability to correctly locate such material shows just how much these kids are learning by using smartphones.
Conclusion
Children are easily influenced by technology, which changes the way they interact and socializes with others. Great use of smartphones and other devices can create negative moods and lower self-esteem among kids and adults as well. Allowing children to own smartphones at a young age also exposes them to beneficial and harmful material. Since children tend to model after what they see, parents and guardians must pay close attention to the kind of information they access and share through smartphones. Ideally, a child should show that he or she is mature and responsible enough before being allowed to own a smartphone. Also, parents need to set a good example for their kids by limiting their own screen time and using their smartphones purposefully.