Poe Russell urges delaying smartphones for kids: ‘The longer you can fend off this beast the better’
Jun 8, 2025, 6:03 AM
A group of people use their smartphones at Dixon Park on December 01, 2024. (Photo by: Roni Bintang, Getty Images)
(Photo by: Roni Bintang, Getty Images)
When is the right time to give your child a smartphone?
A recent study from the Seattle Children’s Research Institute found students spend about 25% of the school day on their phones. KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell urged delaying cell phone use as long as possible.
“Knowing what I know now, I tell young parents with young kids, if you think you’re gonna break down and give them [a smartphone], call me,” she said. “The longer you can fend off this beast, the better.”
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Angela pointed out that irresponsible acts by kids can occur if they receive a smartphone too early.
“This is where all the trouble happens. The kids get together, and you think they’re just going to be hanging out, watching a movie, playing, and what happens is, they’re all on their phones,” she said.
Angela also mentioned the constraints kids have without smartphones.
“Everything is centered around technology, I’ll give you an example. My kid wants to go have pizza after school, all these places won’t take cash, so then you have to either give them a credit card, or I gave my kid access to Apple Pay,” she shared.
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
