[makeitdouble]

The counterpoint would be to treat it like money: you don’t want to isolate a kid from it for 20 years and throw them in the ocean to learn to swim when they’re ready. Getting used to it and making mistakes while the amounts are small and reparable is a better way to make sure they don’t screw it when they’re “grown up” and supposed to be responsible.

[bergenty]

It’s not the same. Having access to a phone can leave you scarred in your most formative years that will affect you for the rest of your life much more reliably than having an extra $10 a week can.

[makeitdouble]

It all comes down to the amount: is it an extra $10 or $1000 you are getting ?

Having a cell phone with limited access, or a cell phone with no supervision and a credit card in it are two completely different propositions. People in these discussions tend to assume the latter, when most parents go for the former and progressively relax the limitations and supervision.

Looking around, kids are getting smartphones primarily to call/be called by their parents, message relatives, and use Google Maps when they're lost. Smaller kids have everything else locked away, and only expand their interaction circle to school and friends before getting access to the wider web.