[thinkingtoilet]

Don't do it then. :)

It's not hard. If they need to be contacted get them a dumb phone. And yes, my kids will miss out. They will miss out on their attention span being destroyed, their ability to critically think destroyed, body issues, radicalization, horrible influences, etc... My children will miss out on all that and I'm very glad that will be the case. I'm not sure why other parents are rushing to destroy their kids brains but that's their choice.

[dghlsakjg]

Or they’ll be mildly resourceful and pickup a cheap Walmart phone, or a friend’s old phone and learn that they can’t be open with you.

I ran a summer camp for teenagers. They know how to get around that stuff if they want. They know how to hide it from their parents to keep access.

You’ll do far better to explain how these things are harmful, and help them make decisions that are healthy.

Below a certain age I’m sure it works for a time, but you will eventually have to find a balance.

That’s why parents want bans. Their kids are going to go where the other kids are. If they are all banned on instagram, they won’t care about finding a way onto a platform where none of their friends are.

[thinkingtoilet]

This is always the response. I'm not an idiot. I understand kids will do things to break the rules. The point is, it won't be something they have access to constantly. If they see a phone at a friend's house that's fine.

>You’ll do far better to explain how these things are harmful, and help them make decisions that are healthy.

Yes. And the healthy decision is to not have a phone. That's like saying I should let my kid eat ice cream for dinner every night but talk to them about how it's better to eat healthy. I'm a parent. It's my job to make some decisions for my children.

[dghlsakjg]

It sounds like you have a plan!

Best of luck.

Sucks that we’re stuck as parents running an experiment on children where the only beneficiaries are corporations, and there is no correct answer.

[postexitus]

I can smell the reply of someone who doesn't have a teenager from a mile. Yes, you will do everything right. Yes, your kids will be perfect. Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face.