Checklist: Is your child ready for a smartphone?

Our updated checklist can give parents some rough guidance in making a decision.

To master a smartphone and its many functions, a mature level of media literacy and media experience is required. After all, they should be able to make security settings, activate or deactivate GPS & W-LAN, and assess apps and their permissions, for example.

It is not always easy for parents to weigh up when their child can safely and responsibly operate a fully functional smartphone with mobile Internet access. The checklist "Is your child ready for a smartphone?" is intended to give parents a rough guide. On the list, parents check off what their child can already do when using a cell phone. If a clear majority of items are checked off, parents can consider providing their child with a smartphone. The prerequisite is that parents discuss the outstanding points with their child and make him or her aware of the risks.

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