If you’re thinking about getting your kid a phone but worried it’ll launch them into a life of social media scrolling or video games, you should know: not all phones are created equal. You can give your kid a cell phone for communication…without sending them freefalling into a life of TikTok dances and Snapchat streaks.
According to Common Sense Media, nearly half of kids (42%) have a phone by age 10. That number jumps to 71% by age 12 and 91% by age 14—with most parents admitting that they give their kids a phone for safety reasons.
But that doesn’t mean kids need an all-access pass! As parents get more and more savvy about the dangers of technology for kids, cell phone-makers are stepping up, making more specialized parental controls and specialized phones to keep kids safe.
So, whether you’re leaning toward an old-fashioned flip phone or a smartphone with built-in safeguards, here are our top picks for the best cell phones and …