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[quote=Anonymous]I think this is probably really dependent on the school and social group, but I do think there are costs, socially.

I made the decision not to give my son a phone until 8th grade, and then only a flip phone that calls and texts and nothing else.  He's not totally isolated socially, but he is isolated.  Mots kids don't have home phones.  Many kids make plans via group texts for ios.  Because he doesn't have a phone, he started using discord more (which started during the pandemic as a way for certain clubs and even classes to communicate).  I don't think that discord is much better, really -- the vibe on discord is more that kids stay on it longer and play games, socialize there on discord.  Whereas I think with phones, kids send group texts about something they are planning to do (meet up at Chipotle, or go see the new Marvel movie, or whatever).  (The social media like insta is separate from the phone issue, I think -- my youngest has an iphone now in 6th grade but she has no social media apps on it.)

Anyway, unless you are living in Amish country, banning the phone does not get them off the electronics --- it just pushes them to other options.  Is texting on their ipad better?  Is discord better?  They can do tiktok from their ipad too, and can definitely view tiktok from their computers.  I don't think there are easy answers for any of this and the parents that say "oh, it's easy, just don't allow it" are probably kidding themselves.

I think a lot depends on your kid and their level of self-control, and their friend group.[/quote]

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