First Smartphone in Europe: At What Age Do Kids Really Get One?

First Smartphone in Europe: Are Kids Getting Them Earlier... or Later? 📱🌍

“All my friends have one.”
That’s often how the conversation starts.

At 9, 10, 11, or 12 years old, the question arises in many families: at what age should you give a child their first smartphone? And above all: are European children receiving their phones younger and younger, or are parents actually starting to push back the timing?

Spoiler: the answer is nuanced!

In practice, smartphones entered children's lives very early. However, in recent years, a reverse movement has been taking shape: parents, schools, doctors, and public authorities are seeking to slow down the arrival of connected smartphones.

Phone or Smartphone: The Distinction That Changes Everything 🤔

Before comparing countries, we must distinguish between two things:

• A simple phone: calls, SMS, possibly geolocation;

• A connected smartphone: Internet, applications, messaging, videos, social networks.

In France, the public site Je protège mon enfant (I protect my child) follows the recommendations of the "Children and Screens" report: from age 11, a child can eventually have a phone without Internet access, but it is strongly discouraged to give a connected smartphone to a child before age 13. (Je Protège Mon Enfant)

This is exactly the heart of the matter: the problem isn't just "having a phone," but having the Internet in your pocket, everywhere, all the time. 📵

France: An Early First Phone, but Recommendations Pushing to Wait 🇫🇷

In France, the pressure starts early: according to the MAE, young people receive their first mobile phone at an average age of 9. However, official recommendations suggest slowing down: a simple phone is possible from age 11, while a connected smartphone is discouraged before age 13. (MAE)

The French trend is therefore two-fold:

• In practice, equipment still arrives early;

• In public discourse, the message is becoming much clearer: delay the connected smartphone.

This is a real cultural shift: it’s no longer just about "setting up parental controls," but about considering the age, the model, and the usage.

United Kingdom: Strong Concerns Regarding the Youngest Users 🇬🇧

In the UK, the regulator Ofcom closely monitors children's digital habits. Its 2024 report covers children aged 3 to 17 and documents the usages, attitudes, and parental practices surrounding digital technology. (www.ofcom.org.uk)

The 2025 report also shows that social usage is increasing among the very young: in 2024, 37% of parents of children aged 3 to 5 stated that their child used at least one social media app or site, compared to 29% in 2023. (www.ofcom.org.uk)

In parallel, the British public debate is hardening. Mobile operator EE recommended that parents should not give smartphones to children under 11 and should instead opt for a basic phone limited to calls and SMS if necessary. (The Guardian)

Here too, we see a paradox: digital usage begins early, but social and institutional movements are increasingly pushing toward a simple rule: no smartphone too soon.

Spain: Established Habits... and Strong Parental Mobilization 🇪🇸

In Spain, national data analyzed by the National Observatory of Technology and Society shows high rates of smartphone and Internet access among minors, as well as an increase in the use of social networks and online games. The report tracks children and adolescents, particularly between ages 10 and 15/17, and also analyzes parental mediation issues. (Better Internet for Kids)

Spain is interesting because it perfectly illustrates the current movement in Europe: usage is already widespread, but parents are organizing to delay the arrival of the smartphone, especially for those under 12 or 13.

In short: smartphones have become a habit, but a very visible counter-trend is appearing around "smartphone later."

Italy: Social Media is Very Present Among Pre-teens 🇮🇹

In Italy, Save the Children recently warned about the strong digital presence of children and pre-teens. The organization states that 62.3% of 11-13 year olds have at least one social media account, despite the age limits set by the GDPR and the platforms. (Save the Children Italia)

While this does not directly give the "average age of the first smartphone," it is an important signal: at 11–13, many children have already entered the social side of digital use. Once again, the question is no longer just "do they have a phone?" but "which sites are they accessing?".

Belgium: First Smartphone Around 11, Parents Prefer 13 🇧🇪

Belgium offers a very telling piece of data: according to Orange Belgium, children receive their first smartphone at an average age of 11, while parents would ideally prefer to wait until 13. (Orange Belgique)

This difference is very interesting: it shows a gap between social reality ("they need it," "everyone else has one") and parental wishes ("we would like to wait").

This is probably one of the best summaries of the situation across Europe.

Netherlands: Schools Clear the Way for Fewer Smartphones 🇳🇱

In the Netherlands, the institutional trend is clearly moving toward limiting smartphone use. Since the 2024/2025 school year, a national agreement has provided for a ban on mobile phones in classrooms at all educational levels, with the goal of reducing distractions, improving concentration, and limiting phone dependency during learning. (Eurydice)

While not a direct measure on the "age of the first smartphone," it is a strong signal: Europe is not moving toward more phones everywhere, all the time. On the contrary, it is starting to reinstate boundaries.

So, Is the Age of the First Smartphone Moving Earlier or Later? 📊

The short answer: both, depending on what you measure.

In Practice: It Has Moved Earlier

Children are using connected tools younger and younger: tablets, parental smartphones, messaging, videos, games, and social networks. UK and Spanish data clearly show that digital media enters children's lives quite early. (www.ofcom.org.uk)

In Recommendations: It Is Receding

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK: the messages are all pointing in the same direction. Distinctions are being made between simple phones and connected smartphones, Internet access is discouraged too early, schools are being regulated, and parents are encouraged to wait. (Je Protège Mon Enfant)

In Families: It Is a Tense Topic

Children ask earlier. Parents would often like to wait longer. Between the two, a solution is needed.

Compagnon: An Effective Alternative to Delay the Smartphone Without Frustrating the Child 🎧

This is precisely where Compagnon makes perfect sense. For families, it is an interesting alternative to the "first smartphone":

• The child has a "grown-up" object;

• They gain independence;

• They can learn and explore;

• But without social media, infinite scrolling, or notifications.

In summary: we meet the need for independence without opening the door to the Internet in their pocket.

Conclusion: Europe Enters the Era of "Smartphone Later" ✨

For a long time, the trend seemed clear: children were receiving phones earlier and earlier. Today, the data shows that digital usage remains very premature, but the discourse from parents, schools, and institutions is changing.

The new question is no longer: "At what age should I give a smartphone?"

But rather: "How can I support my child's independence without giving them a connected smartphone too early?"

And for many families, the answer will lie in screen-free, educational, and secure alternatives — like Compagnon.

Educational Memo

At what age do children receive their first phone in Europe?

Data varies by country and definition. In France, the MAE reports a first mobile phone around age 9 on average; in Belgium, Orange Belgium reports a first smartphone around age 11. (MAE)

At what age should you give a connected smartphone?

French recommendations strongly discourage a connected smartphone before age 13, possibly offering a phone without Internet from age 11. (Je Protège Mon Enfant)

Are children getting smartphones younger and younger?

In usage, yes: children are exposed to connected tools very early. However, recommendations and public policies are moving in the opposite direction: delaying the connected smartphone and providing more structure for usage. (www.ofcom.org.uk)

Which European countries recommend delaying the smartphone?

France discourages connected smartphones before age 13; the UK is seeing carrier recommendations to avoid smartphones before 11; and the Netherlands has strengthened the ban on phones in classrooms. (Je Protège Mon Enfant)

What is an alternative to the first smartphone for a child?

A screen-free solution like Compagnon can meet the need for independence and curiosity without giving access to the web, social media, or notifications. Compagnon is designed for 8–13 year olds, featuring educational audio content and parental controls. (Compagnon)