At what age can you get a phone?
Reading: 5 mins
- The age of 11 years old, coinciding with entry into middle school, is the time recommended by experts to equip a teenager with a first device.
- The numerical majority is set at 15 years in France (Law of 2023) to register independently on social networks.
- Rather than a classic device, a first secure smartphone without free internet allows us to establish progressive and serene autonomy.
- Behavioral maturity takes precedence over real age: assess your teenager's ability to respect a framework and rules of life.
No law imposes a minimum age for owning a mobile device, but the majority of experts recommend waiting until age 11 (i.e. college entry) for your first equipment. Opt for one first secure smartphone, lacking free internet and social networks, makes it possible to offer progressive autonomy while respecting the French legal framework, which sets the digital majority at 15 years for registration on social platforms.
At what age do experts recommend getting your first smartphone?
The age of 11, which generally corresponds to entry into 6th grade, is the ideal turning point for equipping a teenager. According to the recommendations of the Screens commission delivered to the President of the Republic in 2024, it is essential to delay access to an unsupervised connected device as much as possible and to prohibit autonomous exposure to social networks before 15 years. The goal is to avoid cognitive overload and protect mental health.
According to the psychiatrist Serge Tisseron and its famous “3-6-9-12” rule, free access to the web is not recommended before the age of 9, and the use of social networks carries real risks of social pressure before the age of 12. These levels confirm that the introduction of technologies must be gradual to guarantee the digital well-being.
- Numerical majority: Legal age set at 15 years in France, from which a minor can consent alone to the processing of their personal data on social networks.
- Digital well-being: Balance sought between the use of technologies and the preservation of physical and mental health (sleep, concentration).
- Progressive autonomy: Granting a young person step-by-step technological responsibilities, adapted to their level of development and maturity.
Furthermore, theNational Institute of Sleep and Vigilance alert on the use of screens in the evening, identified as the main cause of sleep debt among middle school students. This is why a clear framework must be established from the first equipment.
Maturity: the real indicator for taking the plunge
Even before relying on the date of birth, it is the autonomy and overall behavior of the adolescent which must determine whether he is ready. Entry into 6th grade marks a major logistical milestone with new journeys and fluctuating schedules, requiring a reliable means of communication.
To help you assess your child’s maturity, ask yourself these few essential questions:
- Does he respect simple house rules (shared screen time, schedules) without generating permanent conflict?
- Does he travel alone (college, sports activities) justifying the need to be joined?
- Does he understand the material value of the object (a device that charges and stores carefully)?
- Is he able to confide if he encounters a situation or a message that makes him uncomfortable?
Signing a symbolic “user contract” between parents and teenager often helps to establish golden rules and a right to disconnect from the first days.
Which device should you choose for progressive autonomy?
The best choice to start with is a device that natively blocks problematic applications (free search engines, social networks, addictive platforms) while retaining practical communication tools. Rather than configuring multiple complex settings (Google Play account, application type Family Link), original restricted equipment proves much more reassuring.
At NEOW Kids, the devices are recommended from the age of 14 in their full version to adapt to maturity, but solutions without internet meet the need from a very young age. A secure blind makes it easy to manage a healthy environment.
| Age group | School context | Recommended device type |
|---|---|---|
| Before 9 years | Primary | No personal mobile (emergency solution such as GPS watch if necessary) |
| 9 to 11 years old | End of primary school / Entry into 6th grade | Basic phone for geolocation and calls |
| 11 to 15 years old | College | First secure smartphone (without social networks or free internet) |
| 15 years and over | High school | Standard device with established rules and open dialogue |
The legal framework and the reality of the equipment in France
On a purely material level, no French legislation dictates the minimum age for owning a device. It is up to the legal officials to set the course. On the other hand, the law regulates what adolescents can do there: since 2023, the law requires the explicit consent of parents for the processing of data of minors under 15 years old on platforms such as TikTok or Instagram.
- The average age of getting your first phone is 9 years and 9 months (Observatory of parenthood and digital education, 2024).
- The numerical majority threshold is set at 15 years (Law of July 7, 2023 aimed at establishing a digital majority).
- Average screen time exceeds 4 hours a day for the 6-17 year old age group (Official Solidarity Portal).
Despite doctors' recommendations, the average age of obtaining it is around 9 years and 9 months. This discrepancy can be explained by the parents' desire to maintain contact. This is why distinguishing the basic communication tool from unlimited access to the web is the best approach to protect adolescents.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sources & References
- Screens Commission (2024). Children and screens, in search of wasted time, Report submitted to the President of the Republic.
- OPEN - Observatory of Parenthood and Digital Education (2024). Study on the digital practices of families in France.
- Légifrance (2023). Law No. 2023-566 of July 7, 2023 aimed at establishing a digital majority and combating online hatred.
