{"id":49100,"date":"2023-06-20T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T06:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/?p=49100"},"modified":"2023-06-20T09:58:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T09:58:23","slug":"should-i-let-my-child-use-my-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/should-i-let-my-child-use-my-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I let my child use my phone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Picture this\u2026You\u2019re in a waiting room for way longer than expected, and your preschooler has already exhausted the books and toys that are available. They\u2019re getting antsy and frustrated, and you aren\u2019t sure how much longer you\u2019ll need to wait. You pull up a video on your phone to keep them occupied until your appointment starts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or imagine you\u2019re at a family gathering that\u2019s going later than planned. Your pre-teen has an assignment due for school the next day, and asks to use your phone since they don\u2019t have their computer with them. <\/span>You wonder if it\u2019s alright to hand over your own phone<\/b> so they can work on their assignment and not be up so late when you get home. No matter your child\u2019s age, you\u2019ve probably asked yourself the question, in so many different situations. So what\u2019s the answer?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Is it OK to let my child use my phone?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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These types of situations can happen often with kids of all ages, regardless of whether they have their own personal device or not. Unexpected situations arise, schedules change, batteries die, and <\/span>sometimes a parent\u2019s phone is the only option for keeping kids occupied<\/b>, allowing them to communicate, or accessing information.<\/span><\/p>\n

In these moments, letting your child use your phone can seem like a good solution in the moment. However, <\/span>there are downsides to consider and several important things parents need to keep in mind<\/b> before handing over their device to a child of any age.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We love black and white answers to things in life \u2013 especially when it comes to parenting our children! Unfortunately, as with most things related to raising kids, <\/span>there is no right or wrong answer to whether you should allow your child to use your phone<\/b>. There are, however, many important factors to consider around whether it\u2019s appropriate to hand your device to your child. While it can certainly be a convenient option some of the time, you need to be conscious of <\/span>what they may be exposed to<\/span><\/a> \u2013 not to mention what personal information of yours they might see!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Can I let my child watch videos on my phone?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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There are times when it\u2019s convenient and beneficial to allow your child to watch videos<\/b> on your phone. You might be dealing with an unexpectedly long wait time somewhere, <\/span>a car journey<\/span><\/a> that feels eternal, or their device has broken or lost its charge, or any number of other unexpected situations that can arise where it\u2019s appropriate to allow your child some time with videos on your phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you hand them your device, however, it\u2019s important to consider the following:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Check to make sure you have auto-play turned off on YouTube or any other platform, app, or streaming site they may be using.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Remember that your device is going to recommend videos and other content based on your watching habits \u2013 not your child\u2019s. If the auto-play feature is enabled it may mean your child is exposed to videos or content recommendations you\u2019d rather them not see. You can <\/span>adjust these settings on YouTube<\/span><\/a> to keep kids safer on your device and theirs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Be aware that the privacy and content controls you have on your child\u2019s devices are likely not on your own devices.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This means your child can be exposed to content via web browser, YouTube, and other searches that are not aligned with their age and developmental level. If they are going to use your phone for video-watching <\/span>make sure you select the video and monitor what they\u2019re doing<\/b> while viewing, or turn on restrictions and content limits while they are using the device.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. You likely don\u2019t have time limits set up on your device.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        This means your child could end up consuming a lot of videos if you aren\u2019t monitoring the time. Set a timer on the phone or watch with them<\/b> to ensure they aren\u2019t getting more time than you realize, especially if they are viewing while you\u2019re doing other things. <\/span><\/p>\n

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        Is it OK to let my child use social media on my phone?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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        With each passing week the inherent dangers of social media for children and teens are becoming clearer. The increasing amount of research on children and social media has recently led the US Surgeon General to <\/span>issue an advisory<\/span><\/a> citing concerns about the profound mental health risks posed by social media for children and adolescents. The question of <\/span>whether to allow kids access to social media platforms at all is a complex one<\/b> that requires <\/span>consideration of many factors<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        When it comes to allowing them to use social media apps on your phone, <\/span>children under the age of 13 should not be engaging with these apps<\/b>. If there\u2019s a funny video, meme, or other item you and they want to look at together on your social media account then that\u2019s fine. But steer clear of allowing your kids to use your social apps without direct supervision and collaboration with you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Content concerns aside, you open yourself up to them seeing your activity, messages, and other potentially private information that you likely would prefer they didn\u2019t!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Pros and cons of letting your child use your phone<\/b><\/h2>\n

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        As with all things related to devices, digital media, and children, there are pros and cons to consider around allowing them access to your phone. In general, you need to consider your child\u2019s age and developmental level, the kinds of apps you have on your phone, their track record of responsibility, and your ability to monitor what they\u2019re doing on your device.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Some pros of allowing your child to use your phone could include:<\/b><\/h3>\n

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