---
title: "Young Children Getting Phones at 12 Raises Concerns About Internet Safety"
url: https://newscentral.site/young-children-getting-phones-at-12-raises-concerns-about-internet/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Business"
published: 2026-10-20T11:03:01.000Z
updated: 2026-10-20T14:44:47.368Z
id: c6144b52-e746-43a4-93d3-d5bd04c72a2d
source: "Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/worried-about-getting-kid-phone-no-regrets-2026-10"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/young-children-getting-phones-at-12-raises-concerns-about-internet/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Young Children Getting Phones at 12 Raises Concerns About Internet Safety

A growing number of parents are giving their children phones at age 12, but this decision may not be in the best interest of every child.

Getting a phone at 12 has become a common practice among many parents, but it's not necessarily the right decision for every child. Our family made this choice when our older son turned 12, and he was given a phone in line with his friends who had already received one before starting middle school.

However, looking back on that decision, we regretted giving him a phone at such an early age. The truth is that he didn't need it until his school sports began in the following year, when he started staying after school for practice and traveling around our county for track meets.

The lack of necessity made us feel like we were exposing him to unnecessary risks associated with internet access; protecting him from potential dangers felt like a daunting task.

Giving in to our younger son's demands for a phone at 12 proved to be a challenging decision, one that weighed heavily on our minds.

We had already made this choice for our older son, and while it had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, we now realized the potential risks associated with early internet access.

The pressure from his friends was palpable, as they either already had phones or were getting one, leaving him feeling left out in the process.

This dynamic made us question whether our initial decision had been the right one, and if it was worth exposing our younger son to similar risks.

We struggled to find a balance between keeping him safe online and giving him the freedom to feel connected to his peers.

As our younger son navigated the challenges of school life, he began taking initiative to manage his phone responsibly during the day. He developed a system where he would secure his phone in his backpack at a specific stop on his morning bus route, ensuring it remained safe until he boarded again in the afternoon.

This thoughtful approach allowed us to stay connected with him throughout the day, and we started receiving regular updates about his daily activities. Around 3 pm each day, we'd receive a reassuring text from him saying "I'm on the bus," bringing some comfort to our day.

In addition to these routine updates, he would occasionally share details about his academic progress or plans for tackling homework assignments that evening. We also made it a habit to exchange affectionate messages with each other, often sending animated GIFs to remind him of our love and support.

With the phone's location tracking feature at our fingertips, we could easily stay informed about his whereabouts and communicate schedule changes or updates in real-time. This setup not only granted us greater peace of mind but also fostered a sense of independence and maturity in our younger son.

---
Source: [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/worried-about-getting-kid-phone-no-regrets-2026-10)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/young-children-getting-phones-at-12-raises-concerns-about-internet/