this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2025
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Just give them a phone. Then at least they get something they want with it, instead of ugly shoes.
Young children should absolutely not have a phone, unless I suppose it's completely locked down to chat apps and the tracking I suppose...
My little sister has a phone I set up for her. It has no internet browser, requires permission to download apps, no voicemail, blocks unknown callers, and turns off at 9pm with the exception of contacting family or emergency services.
Phones can be safe for kids if parent just put in the time to learn about parental safety systems and implement them.
More and more governments issue warning about the effects of screens on baby, toddler, and child brain development. The age the Netherlands puts forward now is 14 to have a smartphone, and no screens or very limited until 3 years of age.
How is it different than a TV screen? That was my brainrot when I was growing up.
They issue is less the screen than it is the lack of long-form entertainment. Kids paying attention to an hour and a half movie plot on the screen isn't the same problem as scrolling through endless 30 second videos or accessing social media.
The TV is also bad, but smartphones are literally slot machines in the child's pocket that keep giving them dopamine hits. It's many times worse for the brain.
There are parental controls etc. But the nature of the device is addictive with its notifications and the likes.
Individually targeted and psychologically-optimized content.
Those happen to be the things a child should not be exposed to
Learn to use the tools to protect your kids. iPhones and Android can absolutely be locked down for children. Or just get an apple watch or flip phone. All better than a fucking airtag.
My kids got an apple watch, locked down during school hours, etc.
Better for what purpose? If you’re on holiday in a busy, foreign city, an AirTag for location tracking is much cheaper than this other options.
AirTags rely on being able to piggyback off of other iPhones to report their location. They are not a self-contained device, merely an appliance. If you give your kid a smartwatch with cellular or a full-fledged phone, you can track where they are but also they have the ability to contact you/be contacted if need be. Sure, there are drawbacks to such choices, but that is what being well-informed as a parent is all about.