When Can Children Play Cellphones? According To Bill Gates At The Age Of 14

The age where children can play cellphones (Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Cellphones or handphones have become part of the daily life of the wider community in general and parents in particular. Not a few parents stop their children's crying by handing them their smartphones. What is the impact of cellphones on children?

According to the Assistant Deputy for Child Protection of the Ministry of Woman Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA RI), Ciput Eka Purwianti regrets the behavior of parents who often hand out cellphones to their young children.

Ciput admitted that children who play on cellphones and are not accompanied by their parents have the potential to become asocial children. The reason is, children who should be developing are even too engrossed and addicted to cell phones. Therefore, giving a cellphone to a child cannot be taken lightly.

Bill Gates advice

The founder of technology giant Microsoft, Bill Gates revealed that he set the age limit for using cellphones before his children were allowed to have their own smartphones.

Gates said that his three children were not allowed to have smartphones before they turned 14. The three children of Gates, namely Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe Gates.

"We often set the timing of using smartphones, and in their case, it helps them sleep at a reasonable hour," Gates said.

He also said that children can play with cellphones if it is for studying and doing homework. Gates' children are also allowed to use cell phones while eating with their family.

Children may have their own cell phones at adolescence

According to a report from Today's Parent, young children don't really need smartphones. Meanwhile, for children aged 4 to 6 years, cell phones can have a bad impact on them. Because their brains are developing and cell phones can interfere with social skills.

While at the age of 7-9 years, children's brains are still developing well, the presence of cellphones will have a negative impact on their brain development. At this age, children still don't need cell phones.

Observers recommend that children be allowed to have cell phones between the ages of 10 and 12. That is so they can just call their father and mother. At this age internet access should not be given either.

When children turn 16 years of age or when they are teenagers, they can only have cell phones with internet access. However, with some direction and understanding from parents.