Smartphone Sales for First-Graders Drop Sharply as Finnish Parents Rethink Device Use.
Parents in Finland are waiting longer to give their children smartphones when they start school. Recent data from mobile companies and research groups shows this clear trend.
Fewer families are handing out phones to kids under nine these days. Both DNA and Elisa, two big operators, report sharp drops in smartphone sales for first graders.
DNA reveals that just 36 percent of seven-year-olds now get a phone, down from over 70 percent a year ago. These numbers include smartphones, basic mobile phones, and wearable devices.
Jussi Mälkiä, Brand Director at DNA, explains this shift is due to increasing awareness among parents.
“There isn’t always a need to give a child a device when they start school,” Mälkiä says.
Elisa’s Business Director, Laura Puusaari, says their latest survey shows most parents think nine is the right age to get a first smartphone.
“Parents now better understand the risks children face online and on social media,” Puusaari notes.
Both companies now recommend waiting to give children smartphones until they are older. Some families wait until age 11 before introducing personal devices.
This is different from earlier years when parents were keen to provide young kids with phones to build digital skills.
Silja Martikainen, Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Helsinki, says research supports this change.
“It’s positive to see growing awareness about how too much screen time can affect young children’s development and wellbeing,” Martikainen says.
She highlights links between long hours on devices and poorer school performance, mental health issues, and lower physical activity.
The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare also warns about rising screen time among youth. Their report says two in five young people in Finland spend more than four hours daily on their phones.
Cyberbullying is reported to be on the rise too.
This comes as the Finnish Parliament recently passed a law letting schools ban mobile phones during school hours. Schools will have the power to limit device use starting next academic year.
DNA and Elisa are adjusting their services to match changing customer expectations.
Mälkiä says their staff guide parents through options, including smartwatches that only allow calls and messages.
“If parents choose to buy a device, we inform them of the pros and cons. The decision is theirs but we want to offer good advice,” he explains.
According to Elisa, nearly half of first graders starting school this autumn will have a smartwatch instead of a smartphone.
These watches provide simple calling and texting features, helping families stay in touch without full internet access.
Martikainen stresses that banning devices is not the full answer.
“The bigger issue is the disconnect between children and adults,” she says.
She warns that strict rules can lead to conflict. Instead, parents should stay involved.
Martikainen advises parents to engage with how their children use devices and who they interact with online.
She believes phones can be helpful when used with support and supervision.
“Rather than just setting limits, we should keep the conversation going with kids and teens,” she says.
Both mobile providers and health experts agree early smartphone use can cause problems but accept technology will remain part of young people’s lives.
DNA and Elisa promise to keep updating their guidance based on parent feedback and new child development studies.
