There is no right age for a first phone. It depends on your child, your family and how far they travel alone. This guide covers when most children get one, what has changed in 2026, how to choose a handset and plan, and how to set it up safely before you hand it over.
When children get a phone
Ofcom’s 2026 research shows ownership rising sharply when children start senior school. Smartphone ownership goes from 56% of 10-year-olds to 83% of 11-year-olds. For many families, the move to secondary school and a longer journey is the trigger.
What changed in 2026
The rules around children, phones and social media are moving quickly.
- Social media. In June 2026 the government announced a ban on social media for under-16s. It names Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X, and does not intend to cover messaging apps such as WhatsApp. It also plans to ban livestreaming for under-16s and contact from strangers, including in gaming. For 16 and 17 year olds, those features will be off by default. The first regulations are due by the end of 2026, and the changes are expected in spring 2027.
- Schools. Government guidance expects schools to be mobile phone free by default, so your child may not be able to use their phone during the day.
- Online safety. Since July 2025, the Online Safety Act’s children’s codes have required age checks on many services. They regulate online services, not handsets, so a new phone arrives with nothing set up for you.
Details of the ban may still change, so check the latest before you decide.
Basic phone or smartphone?
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic phone | Calls and texts, and a child who does not need apps | Fewer controls, and no maps or messaging apps |
| Smartphone with strong controls | Messaging, maps and school apps | Needs setting up properly, and your child will use it a lot |
| Hand-me-down smartphone | Keeping cost down | Reset it fully and remove your accounts |
| Refurbished smartphone | A sound handset at a lower price. See refurbished options for a child. | Check battery health and update support |
| New cheap smartphone | Warranty and long updates. See affordable handsets for a first phone. | Do not overspend, since the phone may be dropped or lost |
A first phone does not need to be a flagship. Expensive handsets are also more likely to be stolen.
The plan
Under 18s cannot take out a contract, so the account holder has to be an adult. Read who can hold a contract if you are unsure how checks work. Most children get either pay as you go or a SIM only plan in a parent’s name.
| Plan | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | A fixed budget with no overspend. See pay as you go for a child’s budget. | Credit can run out at a bad moment |
| 30 day SIM only | Flexibility, and no long commitment | Check price rises |
| 12 or 24 month SIM only | Lower monthly cost. See a SIM only plan in a parent’s name. | You are tied in if the phone is lost or not used |
| Safer SIM, such as EE’s under-18 plans | Locked settings and age based filters. These start from about £7 a month. | Only works on that network |
To choose data, see how much data a child really uses. A few gigabytes cover most children’s needs while Wi-Fi does the rest. Set a spending cap, since that stops charges for extras such as roaming, and some networks let you set it to zero. Specialist child SIMs also exist, such as ParentShield, which can log calls and texts.
Safety, in layers
No single setting does everything, so use several.
- Mobile data filter. All four networks switch on an adult content bar for a new SIM, and you lift it by proving you are 18 or over. It only applies to mobile data, not Wi-Fi. If the SIM is an old one, or your own number moved across, check the bar is on before you hand the phone over.
- Phone controls. Google Family Link supervises Android phones and lets you set screen time limits, approve apps and see the phone’s location. On an iPhone, Family Sharing and Screen Time do the same job. Family Link cannot supervise an iPhone.
- Home Wi-Fi. Turn on the filter your broadband provider offers. It covers every device in the house.
- Apps. Most social media sets a minimum age of 13, but children often get around it.
- Talking. Controls do not stop strangers contacting your child, so make sure they know to tell you if something upsets them.
Before you hand it over
- Set up the child’s account and supervision on the phone.
- Check the adult content bar on the SIM.
- Set a spending cap, and turn off roaming if you can.
- Choose which apps are allowed and how long the phone can be used each day.
- Agree house rules, such as no phone at the table or in the bedroom overnight.
- Write down the IMEI, in case the phone is lost or stolen.
- Consider insurance for a phone that may get dropped.
If you are comparing offers, look at a first phone deal alongside the plans above.
FAQs
Will the under-16 ban affect WhatsApp?
Not as announced. The government says it does not intend to cover messaging services such as WhatsApp. Details may still change.
Does the network filter cover Wi-Fi?
No. It only filters the SIM’s mobile data. Use your broadband provider’s filter and the phone’s own controls for Wi-Fi.
Can my child use my old phone?
Yes, if you reset it fully, sign out of your accounts and set up supervision on the new account.