I work in pediatrics. Seeing kids as young as 1st-2nd grade with a smartphone. I lean toward there being no overt benefits to this and it being too much for them to handle. Although, we got my 11 year old an Apple Watch (I wish there were more lower cost options similar). Her watch connects to my phone but it’s her own number. The reassurance that she can text me if she needs something from school (thanks school shooters for helping my anxiety), but she doesn’t have access to things that make life more complicated is a really nice balance for us.
Low rise of coming back in unfortunately 🙄 I refuse to go back 🤣 As a soon to be first time mom who wants my child to enjoy the benefits of the digital age and a therapist who knows the importance of limits on that freedom, I really appreciate you sharing this information. Thank you 💙
An option not mentioned here is a stand alone Apple Watch. It is a useful tool that can be used for calls, texting, nagivation, apple pay, and even to stream music. This is the what we decided to give our son when he turned 10 and was starting to venture out walking alone.
I’m so glad low rise jeans are out of style. I’m around your age and I just can’t wrap my head around how I thought they were cool. I wish I could get away with a dumb phone. I don’t use social media and I’m still astounded by my daily use average
My kids are little but I really hope to delay phone usage
My son (nearly 6) has been asking when he can get a phone.. erm when you’re 13?! We will need to get him some sort of watch option when he starts walking home from school alone, but I see little kids with their heads buried in phones and it seems horrifying.
I switched back to a 'dumb'-phone when I dropped the 'too large to fit in a trouser-pocket' smartphone from my shirt pocket into the toilet pan (permanently destroying its cellular radio, but none of its other features).
The dumb phone has good and bad parts. Good:
-- long battery life (typically 8 or 9 days). This suits my unwillingness to bind myself body and soul to a charger
-- lower value on loss. I've always been amazed that anyone would be willing to carry around GBP200-valued items, 'loose', about their persons, let alone GBP800-valued items (phones are probably pricier in the UK than in the US).
-- simple operation. My smartphone has caught me out wondering 'what do I press to control the phone call', several times, admittedly at Android v4, rather than Android v13. It was as if 'phone' was an afterthought, whereas I want 'phone' up-front and centre.
-- fits in a trouser-pocket. I 'know' where the device is. I don't have constantly to hunt for a new temporary home for it, dependent on what I'm wearing.
Less good:
-- cheaper device has less good listening quality. I'm growing older, my hearing is growing older with me, and scratchier sounding devices force more of my concentration into discerning the words, rather than managing the conversation.
-- texting is a labour of love. Yes, it still needs multi-key-press character hunting.
My attitude to the 'step back'
I feel 'free-er'. When I thought I'd lost the device last week, I didn't stress very much about it. It would have been an inconvenience to have to replace it and its SIM.
I've been wondering about returning to a smart-phone, but mostly for better voice-quality. I've 'been wondering', somewhat idly, for about 18 months. It clearly isn't a disaster
My phone-use profile:
-- I'm older than the first 'mobile phone' generation (sorry, 'cellular' generation). So I'm still pleased to have the convenience of a device about my person that can make outgoing calls. I don't make 'needless' calls. I foreshorten calls when they lose focus. I'm on the absolutely minimum-priced plan.
-- I do _have_ a smartphone; I just don't use it as a phone. I use it as a media 'toy'.
The unihertz phones come with "student mode" that lets you lock down the phone. Latest phones also let you freeze apps to make them completely disappear.
I work in pediatrics. Seeing kids as young as 1st-2nd grade with a smartphone. I lean toward there being no overt benefits to this and it being too much for them to handle. Although, we got my 11 year old an Apple Watch (I wish there were more lower cost options similar). Her watch connects to my phone but it’s her own number. The reassurance that she can text me if she needs something from school (thanks school shooters for helping my anxiety), but she doesn’t have access to things that make life more complicated is a really nice balance for us.
Low rise of coming back in unfortunately 🙄 I refuse to go back 🤣 As a soon to be first time mom who wants my child to enjoy the benefits of the digital age and a therapist who knows the importance of limits on that freedom, I really appreciate you sharing this information. Thank you 💙
An option not mentioned here is a stand alone Apple Watch. It is a useful tool that can be used for calls, texting, nagivation, apple pay, and even to stream music. This is the what we decided to give our son when he turned 10 and was starting to venture out walking alone.
Thank you Dr. Nesi for this very thorough article. May I cross post to my audience one day soon?
Thanks, this is super helpful 🌞
I remember the A and F scent as well. Sometimes it was so strong you could not even go near the store! I am so glad they don’t use it anymore.
I’m so glad low rise jeans are out of style. I’m around your age and I just can’t wrap my head around how I thought they were cool. I wish I could get away with a dumb phone. I don’t use social media and I’m still astounded by my daily use average
My kids are little but I really hope to delay phone usage
My son (nearly 6) has been asking when he can get a phone.. erm when you’re 13?! We will need to get him some sort of watch option when he starts walking home from school alone, but I see little kids with their heads buried in phones and it seems horrifying.
I switched back to a 'dumb'-phone when I dropped the 'too large to fit in a trouser-pocket' smartphone from my shirt pocket into the toilet pan (permanently destroying its cellular radio, but none of its other features).
The dumb phone has good and bad parts. Good:
-- long battery life (typically 8 or 9 days). This suits my unwillingness to bind myself body and soul to a charger
-- lower value on loss. I've always been amazed that anyone would be willing to carry around GBP200-valued items, 'loose', about their persons, let alone GBP800-valued items (phones are probably pricier in the UK than in the US).
-- simple operation. My smartphone has caught me out wondering 'what do I press to control the phone call', several times, admittedly at Android v4, rather than Android v13. It was as if 'phone' was an afterthought, whereas I want 'phone' up-front and centre.
-- fits in a trouser-pocket. I 'know' where the device is. I don't have constantly to hunt for a new temporary home for it, dependent on what I'm wearing.
Less good:
-- cheaper device has less good listening quality. I'm growing older, my hearing is growing older with me, and scratchier sounding devices force more of my concentration into discerning the words, rather than managing the conversation.
-- texting is a labour of love. Yes, it still needs multi-key-press character hunting.
My attitude to the 'step back'
I feel 'free-er'. When I thought I'd lost the device last week, I didn't stress very much about it. It would have been an inconvenience to have to replace it and its SIM.
I've been wondering about returning to a smart-phone, but mostly for better voice-quality. I've 'been wondering', somewhat idly, for about 18 months. It clearly isn't a disaster
My phone-use profile:
-- I'm older than the first 'mobile phone' generation (sorry, 'cellular' generation). So I'm still pleased to have the convenience of a device about my person that can make outgoing calls. I don't make 'needless' calls. I foreshorten calls when they lose focus. I'm on the absolutely minimum-priced plan.
-- I do _have_ a smartphone; I just don't use it as a phone. I use it as a media 'toy'.
-- I'm not a social media user at all
Awesome, thanks !
The unihertz phones come with "student mode" that lets you lock down the phone. Latest phones also let you freeze apps to make them completely disappear.
Seems like a reasonable compromise.