"When my older child got her first phone at age 12 and we had to try to figure all this out for the first time, we set her phone to lock an hour before bedtime. We kept that limit in place for a good long while and I don't regret it, but the fact is that it also made her extra obsessive about her phone right up until the cutoff time."
"The biggest concern I have is just that she is always on her iPhone. She's still doing great in school, seems to have quite a few friends, and goes to tennis and dance class a few hours each week. But she doesn't hang out with friends much outside of school, is constantly distracted, and will often get a bit hostile when required to put her phone down and engage."
"Dear It's the Phones, I just read The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt's book about how bad social media is for kids. I've already made mistakes with my daughter and smartphones that I wish I could take back. Now I'm just looking to put some guard rails on, and wondering what would be sane. We got her a phone when she was 11."
Parents can impose tailored, flexible limits on teenage smartphone use, such as locking devices an hour before bedtime, to curb nighttime access. Temporary restrictions can target specific problems, for example instituting 4 p.m.–6 p.m. phone-free time to ensure homework starts on time. App-specific limits address spikes in use of particular services. Limits may increase pre-use obsession but can still be effective long-term. Key concerns include increased Instagram use, constant distraction, reduced in-person socializing, and hostile reactions when phones are removed. Adjusting rules based on the child's behavior and needs is recommended.
Read at Slate Magazine
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