Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone | Pew Research Center

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October 6, 2025

1. How parents describe their kids’ tech use

Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone

Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone

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Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone

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1. How parents describe their kids’ tech use
Majorities of parents say their kids use tablets and smartphones; watching TV is especially common
Roughly 6 in 10 parents overall say their child uses or interacts with a smartphone, and about 4 in 10 say this about their child under 2
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone
A majority of parents say their children, including those under 2, watch videos on YouTube
Most parents watch YouTube alongside their child
15% of parents say their child uses TikTok, and this rises with child age
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone
Parents see social media as particularly harmful for their children, more so than smartphones or tablets
1 in 3 parents with 11- and 12-year-olds think their child spends too much time on a smartphone
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone