Should children under 13 be banned from owning smartphones completely?

The question of whether children under 13 should be banned from owning smartphones brings together issues of child development, technology access, education policy, and digital regulation. Smartphones are multifunctional tools that offer internet access, communication, entertainment, and learning resources—but also expose users to risks such as screen addiction, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and data tracking. The age of 13 is significant in digital policy due to international regulations like COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) in the United States, which restricts companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Similarly, the GDPR in the European Union sets limits on how digital services can process children’s data. As a result, many platforms—including social media and app stores—set 13 as the minimum age for account creation. Despite these rules, many children under 13 use smartphones regularly, often with or without parental supervision. In some countries, schools and parents provide phones to children as safety tools or educational aids, while others campaign for stricter limits or delayed access. Understanding this debate involves familiarity with child psychology, digital literacy, parental control technologies, and global variations in youth tech policy.