When should my child get a first smartphone?
The Public Health Agency of Sweden advises waiting to give your child a smartphone until the year they turn 13, following age limits and keeping screens out of the bedroom at night. The US Surgeon General's 2023 advisory says it cannot yet be concluded that social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents, and recommends that families make a media plan together and keep tech-free zones.
| Age | Public Health Agency of Sweden advice |
|---|---|
| 6–12 years | Max 1–2 hours of leisure screen time a day. Follow age limits and keep track of content. |
| The year they turn 13 | A reasonable time for a first smartphone. |
| 13–18 years | Max 2–3 hours a day. Think about how screens affect wellbeing. |
| All ages | Screens away at least 30 minutes before sleep and outside the bedroom. |
What does research say about social media?
The US Surgeon General's advisory reports that up to 95% of 13–17-year-olds use a social media platform. Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems such as symptoms of depression and anxiety, and 46% of 13–17-year-olds said social media makes them feel worse about their bodies. Social media can also bring benefits, such as staying in touch with friends, and the advisory notes that there are still gaps in the evidence.
What should we agree on before the first phone?
- Make a family media plan together, for example with the free tool from the American Academy of Pediatrics: when, where and how much.
- Agree on phone-free times and places, such as meals and bedrooms at night.
- Go through privacy settings, passwords and who can contact your child.
- Start with fewer apps and add more as your child shows they can handle them.
- Agree that your child can always tell you if something online feels wrong, without losing the phone.
What can I do as a parent?
- Be a role model: think about how and when you use your own phone when you are with your child (Public Health Agency of Sweden).
- Show interest in your child's digital life, and ask about it regularly, not only when something goes wrong.
- Talk with other parents in the class. Shared rules make it easier for every family.
Try this week
- Write down three family phone rules together and put them somewhere everyone can see them.
- Choose a charging spot outside the bedrooms and start using it tonight, adults too.
- Ask your child which apps their friends use, and look at them together.
When to get help
Talk to your child's school nurse or doctor if screen use seems to crowd out sleep, school, friends or activities, or if your child seems low or anxious. In Sweden, children and young people can contact Bris on 116 111. In an emergency, call 112 or your local emergency number.