If you’re looking to get your child their first phone, you might be wrestling with whether to get a flip phone or smartphone. Both options have pros and cons, and there are great selections in both categories. However, you need to weigh a variety of factors as you decide whether a flip phone or smartphone is right for your child — are they mature enough for a smartphone? Will the flip phone have all the features they need? Here are some important factors to consider.
Reasons a child might need a phone
Start by considering why your child needs a flip phone or smartphone. That will help narrow down your options.
Some reasons a kid might need a phone:
Safety. If your child walks to-and-from school or friend’s houses often, a phone can help you track their whereabouts and allow them to contact you if they need help.
Practicality. If your child is in extracurricular activities, a phone can help you coordinate picking them up. If they get done early, you’re running late, or the carpool plan has changed, a quick text gets everyone on the same page.
Responsibility. If your child babysits younger siblings or neighbor kids, they’ll need a way to contact you quickly in case of an emergency. (Or if they forget how to make mac n’ cheese.)
Independence. As parents, our ultimate goal is to teach our children to be independent. The ability to arrange hangouts with friends without using a parent’s phone or manage their allowance spending through a mobile pay app helps them become more self-sufficient.
Flip phone pros and cons
Flip phones have grown in popularity in recent years, especially as more parents seek to delay giving kids access to smartphones and reduce the temptation of screen time. But flip phones do have some drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of flip phones for kids:
Flip phone pros
Great for basic communication. If your child primarily needs their phone to call and text, a flip phone provides reliable communication access without the fancier features of a smartphone.
No social media or apps. If you want your child to have a phone but aren’t ready to set them loose on social media or the myriad of apps out there, a flip phone is a great choice. Most only offer messaging and basic internet browsing.
Cost effective. Not only are flip phones cheaper to purchase, but they’ll also save you on your monthly bill because they don’t require hefty data plans.
Durability. Flip phones are generally pretty durable because they don’t have a giant glass screen like most smartphones, which is great for kids who are prone to breaking things.
Minimizes screen time. As anyone who has ever had a smartphone can attest, the pull of that bright rectangle can be fierce. In comparison, flip phone screens are pretty basic and far less likely to entice a child into endless hours of mindless scrolling.
Flip phone cons
No location monitoring. Because most flip phones don’t support GPS or app downloads, they don’t allow you to track your child’s whereabouts.
No parental monitoring. If you’re concerned your child might send or receive explicit images or be contacted by a stranger, flip phones limit your ability to monitor their device. You can still do a good old-fashioned phone check, but you won’t have the option for parental controls or text message monitoring apps.
Smartphone pros and cons
Flip phones are a great option for some kids. But if your child needs more functionality, you might consider a smartphone. Here are the pros and cons of smartphones for kids:
Smartphone pros
More communication options. With a flip phone, your kid is stuck calling and texting. A smartphone opens them up to communicate over various messaging apps, including WhatsApp (great if you have family out of the country), and to make video calls (to grandma, of course).
Location monitoring. If you want to use location tracking to keep tabs on where your child is, a smartphone is the way to go. Because of the built-in GPS and ability to download apps, you’ll have access to a variety of tracking options.
Parental controls. Whether it’s through the built-in options on your child’s device or through a parental control app, smartphones let you set parental controls on your child’s device — something you can’t do with flip phones.
Monitoring. If you’re worried about your child being exposed to explicit images or being contacted by strangers, smartphones allow you to use a parental monitoring app like BrightCanary.
Smartphone cons
Expensive. Smartphones can easily cost upwards of $500. And because they require data, they’re more expensive to add to your phone plan than flip phones are.
Easy access to social media. Of course, kids can access social media from a computer, but smartphones are the easiest and most natural way to use these apps. Plus, the fact that their phone is in their pocket makes sending a quick Snap all the more tempting.
Increased screen time. The very fact that a smartphone gives your child access to the entire internet in the palm of their hand is likely to increase their screen time. When you add in the pull of addictive algorithms and FOMO, you have a recipe for kids who spend a lot of time staring at their smartphone screen.
Final word
When deciding between a flip phone or smartphone for your child, it really comes down to what works best for your family. Regardless of what device you choose, it’s important to stay informed and involved with how your child uses their phone through things like digital check-ins and parental monitoring apps like BrightCanary.
