No but 13 yo ds is not interested in social media. Yes, he has a smart phone which we got him when he started middle school in 6th grade (2 yrs ago) but it was because the bus was always breaking down, running late in the afternoon or he would get locked out of the house, etc and I wanted to know where he was and when/if he got home ok since Dh and I woh at the home.

No, and neither do we. He really hasn't expressed interest in it.

The contrast between the folks who say it's cruel to deprive kids of social media and the folks on the other thread who are flaming the mom whose 15 year old wants to have boyfriend and friends for a sleepover is so crazy and sad. So it's fine to give your middle schoolers smartphones which lets be honest are mobile porn access... if you say "no" you're an ogre...

but if your 15 year old feels comfortable talking to you about her (completely normal!) interest sex you are a s****y parent?

Sigh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, does every kid that's 12+ have a smart phone?

My kid 12yo keeps telling me that, but we've ignored his pleas for a phone.

Does every kid in MS really have one?

Mine doesn’t, but she’s definitely the last among her friends.

My 12 yo just got a phone (flip) as she is taking to bus to go to school, biking to activities,.... Her friend got a watch that allows texting and calling for the same reason.

Plug for gabb phone which has group texts but no apps. I wish everyone would band together and get one and take some of the pressure off kids to use snapchat etc before hs. g

Anonymous wrote:My DS is begging but I'm not ready to give in. (And no, he doesn't secretly have it. I have to give my password to add an App). He's of course saying he's the "only one," so I'm curious how true that is?

I'm including Snap, TikTok, Instagram, FB and Twitter in the list of can't haves fyi.

At 13, he's not lying when he says he's probably the only one. LOL.

My 13yr. old is not into Instagram or Snapchat too much but loves the funny videos on TikTok.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, does every kid that's 12+ have a smart phone?

My kid 12yo keeps telling me that, but we've ignored his pleas for a phone.

Does every kid in MS really have one?

Mine doesn’t, but she’s definitely the last among her friends.

My 12 yo just got a phone (flip) as she is taking to bus to go to school, biking to activities,.... Her friend got a watch that allows texting and calling for the same reason.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, does every kid that's 12+ have a smart phone?

My kid 12yo keeps telling me that, but we've ignored his pleas for a phone.

Does every kid in MS really have one?

Mine doesn’t, but she’s definitely the last among her friends.

DD 12 yrs no phone, no social media. Does various group texts with friends via her computer. Knows and has seen social media through older siblings but isn't desperate to get it. Some of her friends use it and some don't In our house 13 is the year you can get limited, monitored access. There is no way older siblings would allow a younger one to have any earlier privileges even if we were to ease up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:would you consider a YouTube channel (no real name, disabled comments, impersonal content, doesn't follow anyone but has over 1000 followers) to be social media?

I’m a PP and I think that’s worse. The only point is to post things for others to view. What parents don’t understand is this is how kids are communicating now instead of texting. It’s okay to not allow your kid to talk to others outside of school, it’s your choice. But realize you are cutting them off socially. Other kids are not going to pick up the phone to make a voice call or start texting to make plans with the one kid that doesn’t have snap/discord whatever the group is using.

what are you talking about? I asked if people would consider this a social media use. I am not cutting anyone socially jeez