Bill Gates: We Didn’t Give Our Kids Cell Phones Until They Were Age 14

At what age did you get your first Cell phone? I got mine at age 15 back then although nowadays, mobile phones are more popular, affordable and accessible to everyone to the extent that little kids in kindergarten and primary schools now have personal phones to make calls, play music and games. As a matter of fact, even professional maids from NYC maid service now have Cell Phones.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates
However, in a rather shocking news, world's richest man and the founder of Microsoft Bill Gates has revealed that he didn't allow his children to own a cell phone untill after the age of 14. Can you believe that? You would think his kids would have been among the first to use smartphones at an early age.

In an interview with the Mirror, Bill Gates and his wife banned their three children from owning cell phones until age 14. They limited their children access to technology. Below is his statements on this issue:

“We don’t have cell phones at the table when we are having a meal, we didn’t give our kids cell phones until they were 14 and they complained other kids got them earlier.”

“We often set a time after which there is no screen time and in their case that helps them get to sleep at a reasonable hour. You’re always looking at how it can be used in a great way – homework and staying in touch with friends – and also where it has gotten to excess.

But the Microsoft CEO is not even the first techie to do this. In a Sunday New York Times article, reporter Nick Bilton says he once asked Steve Jobs “So, your kids must love the iPad?”

Jobs response: “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”

SEE ALSO... How Kids Now Learn ABCD With Technology

In case you don't know, Steve Jobs is the co-founder of Apple computers. As a matter of fact, iPhone and iPad came in existence through his inventions.

So the question now is at what age did you get your first phone? Would you follow Bill Gates footsteps by not allowing your kids to have a phone till the age of 14? As for me, my kids will have access to phones and other electronic gadgets as early as possible but I will have to monitor their activities with Google's Family Link and other similar child monitoring apps.

9 comments:

  1. Got mine at age 17. My papa too strict. Na my uncle even dash me the phone. Sagem 😀

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    1. To be frank am going to do as he did when i have children. But am gonna give them phones at the age of 10.

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  2. I can't do like that, I will issues a pc and a phone to my son at age of 6 cox I want him to become addicted with all this

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  3. I can't remember when i got my first phone cos i was always sharing one with my uncle

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  4. i got mine @ 14. open and close bird

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  5. M my female child will own her cell phone at age of #18 boy #12-15

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