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First phone readiness check

What age should my child get a phone in Australia?

There's no legal age. Readiness matters more.

No Australian law sets an age for owning a phone. The under-16 rules cover accounts on age-restricted social media platforms, not the phone itself. What matters is whether your child is ready to handle one. These 12 questions help you decide, and take about 3 minutes.

Built by a registered psychologist with 20 years in child and family services. General information, not clinical advice.

We never ask for your child's name. Your answers stay on this device unless you email yourself the results. You can answer on your own or together with your child.

ReadyA smartphone with controls and a written agreement.
Nearly readyStart with a basic phone or smartwatch, and build up.
Not yetA borrowed family phone for now, and skills to practise.

0 of 12 answered

1How old is your child?
2How often does your child get around without an adult, such as to school, sport or a friend's place?
3What's the main reason they want a phone?
4How do they handle the screen limits you set now?
5How well do they look after their things?
6If something online upset or scared them, would they tell you?
7Do they know not to share personal details, like their address, school or photos, with people online?
8Do they understand they can't have accounts on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram until 16?
9How do they cope when friends leave them out or say unkind things?
10Do they follow rules when you're not watching, like homework or bedtime?
11Are you ready to set up parental controls and check in with them regularly?
12Would the phone charge outside their bedroom overnight?

Your result

Answer all 12 questions to see whether your child is ready, nearly ready or not yet ready, with next steps for your family.

Phones and the under-16 rules

Since 10 December 2025, ten platforms must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s having accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube. A phone doesn't change that. Messaging apps and online games aren't covered, so they need your own family rules.

Source: eSafety Commissioner, social media age restrictions. Last checked 22 October 2026.

Common questions

Is there a legal age for a phone in Australia?

No. There's no minimum age for owning a phone. The under-16 rules cover accounts on age-restricted social media platforms, not phones themselves.

Can my child have WhatsApp or iMessage on their first phone?

Messaging apps aren't covered by the under-16 social media rules. Whether they suit your child is a family decision, so agree who they can message and when.

Smartwatch, basic phone or smartphone?

A kids' smartwatch or basic phone covers calls, texts and location without apps or a browser. A smartphone makes sense once your child can manage limits and tell you when something goes wrong.

What should a phone agreement include?

When and where the phone is used, where it charges overnight, which apps are allowed, what to do if something upsetting happens, and what happens when an agreement is broken.

Already decided? Plan the screen time too

Our free planner sets daily limits for each child from Australia's guidelines, starting with your family's values.

Make our family screen plan →