Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them | Pew Research Center

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October 8, 2025

1. How parents describe their kids’ tech use

Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them

Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them

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Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them

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1. How parents describe their kids’ tech use
Majorities of parents say their kids use tablets and smartphones; watching TV is especially common
Roughly 6 in 10 parents overall say their child uses or interacts with a smartphone, and about 4 in 10 say this about their child under 2
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone
A majority of parents say their children, including those under 2, watch videos on YouTube
Most parents watch YouTube alongside their child
15% of parents say their child uses TikTok, and this rises with child age
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone
Parents see social media as particularly harmful for their children, more so than smartphones or tablets
1 in 3 parents with 11- and 12-year-olds think their child spends too much time on a smartphone
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
Most parents think kids should be at least 12 before having their own phone
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone
Parents who give their child a phone commonly do so to contact them
Inappropriate content is a major reason parents don’t let kids use a smartphone