Teenagers and Phones

Admittedly, I never wanted to get my child a phone or allow him to be on social media. We had set up Google Family and TextNow with him on an old phone of ours. He couldn't be on group chats bigger than five people; he couldn't do anything without us knowing about it. Then, he turned 13.

He took the Google Family Parental controls and signed up for Snapchat. On his birthday. It wasn't even ten a.m.! 

Our plan to take him to get his own real phone was immediately squashed. We tried to minimize the damage that was done and take back control--or some sort of balance to remind him he wasn't an adult yet--just a teenager with slightly more access than before. 

We made this contract. He is the type of teenager that needs rules and structures. Help us when the other child turns thirteen. He got an Iphone (it was free with an upgraded plan) three months after his birthday.  

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