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Does your child have a smartphone, or did you have one as a child? We want to hear your stories

We want to hear from young people and their parents about how smartphone use affects their lives

Smartphones and how they may affect kids has become a hot button issue.

report released this week found 93% of kids aged between 8 and 12 now own their own smart device – but also warned that one in four primary school-aged children in Ireland have experienced cyberbullying in the past year.

Alex Cooney, Chief Executive of CyberSafeKids said children were extremely active on social media while unsupervised, leaving them vulnerable to “bullying, grooming, and exposure to violent or sexual content”.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that he thinks smartphones should be banned in schools.

However, for many families the arguments in favour of giving children smartphones are compelling. These include safety, as it allows parents and kids to stay in contact, and socialising: given the prevalance of smartphone ownership, not having one could leave a child isolated from their classmates and friends.

Many parents feel their teenagers or pre-teens are ready for their own phone once the right safeguards are in place. The question of what age is the right age can be a bone of contention between kids and parents.

With all this in mind, The Journal would like to hear from you about how your family has navigated this tricky issue.

Reach out and let us know your story if you are:

  • The parent of a child with a smartphone – what age did you let them get one and what has the experience been for you and them?
  • A parent who has decided not to let their child get a phone – how has it worked out?
  • A young person who got a smartphone when you were a child. Looking back now, are you glad you got one when you did, and what effect do you think it had?
  • A teacher. At what age do you think it is appropriate for children to own a smartphone and should they be allowed in primary schools?

We’ll share the stories in a future article. Please include your name, your age and the county you live in an email along with your story.

Please tell us if you wish to remain anonymous or use your first name only in the piece.

To share your story, please send 250-300 words (or more if you like) to steven.fox@thejournal.ie with the subject line ‘Smartphones’.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:45 PM

    There were no mobile phones let alone social media back in my day and it used to be exhausting going around all my friends houses every evening telling them what I had for dinner and how cute my cat looked.

    228
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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:49 PM

    @Steve: Glad about it, too. Wouldn’t have wanted my teenage years online.

    98
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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Sep 6th 2023, 8:03 PM

    @Steve: back when filters were just things that got clogged in washing machines…

    74
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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:45 PM

    My fella can get a smartphone when he has the money. He ain’t happy about it but bad luck for him, I’m in charge.

    163
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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:48 PM

    @Louis Jacob: Wow, an actual parent. Well done.

    148
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    Mute Mick Hanna
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:44 PM

    Not as a child, but I had a smart mouth that got many a smack on the behind…NO such thing as Snowflake parenting those days!

    114
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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Sep 6th 2023, 8:05 PM

    @Mick Hanna: I remember my parents thinking we were what would be today’s idea of a snowflake because they had it even tougher in the 50s than we did in the 70s/80s. I wonder does the cycle ever reverse or will today’s generation be calling the future generation a teardrop or something.

    35
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    Mute HisMastersAlibi
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    Sep 6th 2023, 8:01 PM

    I remember seeing a text message for the 1st time back in 98 and being amazed, oh how times have changed. There should be kid friendly phones,just phone call and text. Am I being too simplistic in that idea.

    90
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    Mute Paul C
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    Sep 6th 2023, 8:31 PM

    @HisMastersAlibi: there are several versions on the market. Nokia does good ones.

    33
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    Mute Willie Marty
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:54 PM

    Far from mobile phones smart phones watch phones or any other high teck gadgets we were reared.Plenty of hard work and fresh air.

    65
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    Mute Paul Moloney
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:40 PM

    Mind your business

    21
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    Mute F Fitzgerald
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    Sep 6th 2023, 7:52 PM

    I had a computer, but it had a Zilog Z80 chip! And 64k memory – 42k of which was available as the operating system took up the rest.
    Looking back, I’m sure there were Mars rovers with higher technology!

    18
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