Giving CO Children a Phone Puts Them in Danger

Do you remember the day you got your first cell phone? How old were you? What kind of phone was it? Depending on how old you are, you likely remember getting your first cell phone as a teenager, or perhaps even younger. If you are older, you likely had to buy your first cell phone as an adult and never had one in school. For some generations, you had to wait until you were in high school to get your first cell phone, or perhaps in middle school, but now kids are getting cell phones at younger ages. Handing a child a cell phone in Colorado could actually be putting them in danger, and according to a recent study, age may play a major factor.

At What Age Are Kids Getting Cell Phones in Colorado

Kids are getting cell phones younger than ever before, but should they be, and are they ready? A recent study from WellPCB found that handing a child a cell phone opens up dangers that perhaps parents aren't aware of, and that children are not ready for as well. Colorado is ranked the eighth most dangerous state to give a child a cell phone, with Nevada being the most dangerous state, Florida being the second most dangerous, and Indiana being the third most dangerous. A huge reason for this is that kids are getting cell phones too young. If you look at the list, the safest states are those where kids get their first cell phones at older ages. The average age at which a kid gets their first phone in Colorado is 10.95, compared to the safest state, which is Mississippi, where kids get their first one at an average age of 11.83, almost an entire year later than in Colorado. 

The Dangers of Kids Owning Cell Phones in Colorado

There is a danger scale on the study, and Nevada has a 100 percent danger ranking, with Colorado having a 76.7 danger ranking. It is interesting to see that older kids seem to face lower risks when getting a phone. They likely are more mature and know how to use it properly. There are pros and cons to giving a child a phone. It can allow parents to track their children, call them while they walk to school, or call or text them when plans change for how they are getting picked up after school. Kids can also take advantage of a phone to talk to people they shouldn't, surf the internet, or text and call at times they shouldn't. There are some good parental guidance apps you can put on your child's phone to control what they see and how they use the phone. Giving a child a phone with no parameters can be dangerous. 

Get our free mobile app

At what age do you think your child should get a phone? Is 10 years old too young? That would mean a kid is getting a phone in either the third or fourth grade. Some parents think middle school, some think ten, others say they should wait until high school. Giving a child a phone can be good, but it can also open them up to dangers they aren't ready for.