Greetings, everyone!

During my childhood days, I could vividly and authentically recalled how we used to play with sand, making paper cell phone is to call each other playfully, playing all sort of different village plays. We lived out our traditional lives as children and analog lifestyle. It didn't occur to us that time will change from traditional way of life to digital way of life, to the point of children being part of this digital age. However, our time was strict with rules given to us by our parents, and they played a vital rules in our lives, they knew our strength and weaknesses. 



![IMG_20241127_160925_372.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/peckypeace/244KRCt1bSrCFksjBwZdV2AtkBFsNVoC4CMT8rmrQLpqV1jses4T62XP9dJrfgpn3uGS1.jpg)
_**Images by me**_



I started using a smartphone in my year 2 in the university, 2021. This was the year I started getting involved in the digital life. Thank God for my pastor who helped me through the journey of my digital life.

# At what age should a child own a smartphone and social media?


![IMG_20241127_162111_570.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/peckypeace/23wqnjsN7U4yuc5Jx7REQx3Y5X7FkGZyyrPCPRw3hqNifvgbrCyKzxEQ6zmudXRrgfeF4.jpg)
_**Images by me**_

Well, it depends on a child's maturity. Like me, my mother didn't allow me to own a smartphone because I wasn't mature in my mind to handle it and not being able to operate too. There are some children at age 15, who knew how to handle smartphones. Nevertheless, parenting really matters in this digital age, parents should know when a child is mature to handle a smartphone with all amount of diligence. Just for you to know that time has changed, my baby sister collected my smartphone from me when I went home, I could recalled showing her how to draw my pattern so she can have access to my phone. Since then, I didn't opt to show her anything again. I was surprised when she opened a game app in my phone and played a game that I have never played before. I watched her behind applied different methods to get the game. I was shocked to my marrow. In my mind, who showed it to her. And she played it skillfully. And we don't blame some this children who are also digitally inclined, they are and they were born into it, saw, it, and felt it. The best people to guide them to make the right decision are parents. I remembered leaving with my pastor as a grown up lady, do you know I started using Facebook, two years ago. My pastor didn't allow me to open or perceived what is happening on Facebook. I knew it was a platform that was corrupted with many atrocities of photographs and other things. 

Moreover, I can't tell the exact age of a child who is capable of handling social media. Children with age difference with different exposure of knowledge about smartphone and social media.  

# What could be the issues with kids own phone so early in their lives?

Truth be told, the issues with kids own phone so early in their lives is a big distraction, there is no how there will not be distracted, there will not focused on their academics again and they will loose interest automatically for their lives. No matter the age of that child, he or she will be distracted. I would prefer parents to offer them small phones maybe for calling and answering calls when they aren't around or to know their where about.


_**This post is in response to the #Hivelearners featured contest week 167 episode 1**_

_**I love, I care, and I forgive**_

_**I remain @peckypeace**_



Posted Using [INLEO](https://inleo.io/@peckypeace/digital-children--dyr)