Bill Gates, renowned for his strict stance on technology use among his children, recently disclosed in an interview that his offspring were not permitted to possess their own cell phones until reaching the age of 14.
The tech magnate cited concerns about maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and enforcing boundaries, such as no cellphone use at the dinner table, with exceptions made for educational purposes like homework.
Despite his children now spanning ages 20, 17, and 14—ages where owning a phone is common—Gates maintains a household ban on Apple products, stemming from his historic rivalry with Apple’s late founder, Steve Jobs.
While some may view Gates’ approach as stringent, delaying smartphone ownership for children could have its merits. The average age for a child’s first smartphone, according to a 2016 report titled “Kids & Tech: The Evolution of Today’s Digital Natives,” is now 10.3 years old, with experts predicting this age may decline further.
James P. Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, echoes Gates’ sentiment, providing phones to his children only upon entering high school and demonstrating responsibility, emphasizing the importance of maturity over age.
PBS Parents offers guidance for parents considering giving their child their inaugural phone, stressing factors such as the child’s independence, responsibility, and comprehension of boundaries and consequences.
