Follow for more talkers

At what age do parents think it’s ok for kids to get their first smartphone?

Avatar photo

Published

on
Children addicted to technology, kids watching screens at home absorbed in their phones

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

KIDS AND TECH

A SURVEY OF 2,000 PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN FOUND THE AVERAGE KID WILL RECEIVE THEIR FIRST SMARTPHONE AT 10 YEARS OLD. 

RESULTS FROM THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF CRICKET WIRELESS, REVEALED SEVEN IN 10 (70%) PARENTS TRUST THEIR KIDS WITH TECH, WHILE TWO-THIRDS (66%) HAVE PUT PARENTAL CONTROLS ON ALL THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVICES FOR SECURITY CONCERNS. 

PARENTS SAID THEY DECIDED TO GIVE THEIR YOUNGSTERS A SMARTPHONE TO USE FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES (55%), TO HELP THEM GAIN TECH SKILLS FOR THEIR FUTURE WORK (47%) AND BECAUSE THEY SHOWED MATURITY (46%). 

SIX IN 10 (62%) ALSO BELIEVE TECH IS BENEFICIAL FOR KIDS’ SOCIAL SKILLS. 

THE POLL ALSO QUIZZED KIDS, AGES 6 TO 18, ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF OLDER TECH DEVICES. WHEN PRESENTED WITH IMAGES OF OLD GADGETS, ALMOST HALF (49%) WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A LANDLINE, ONLY 28% KNEW WHAT A FLOPPY DISK WAS AND JUST 26% SAID THEY’D BE ABLE TO NAME AND EXPLAIN HOW TO USE AN ANSWERING MACHINE.

OLD TECH KIDS WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN PICTURES

  • Landline - 51% 
  • Fax machine - 38%
  • Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) - 29%
  • Floppy disk - 28%
  • Answering machine - 26%
  • Pager - 24%

Stories and infographics by ‘Talker Research’ are available to download & ready to use. Stories and videos by ‘Talker News’ are managed by SWNS. To license content for editorial or commercial use and to see the full scope of SWNS content, please email [email protected] or submit an inquiry via our contact form.

Top Talkers