Setting Digital Boundaries with Kids At Any Age

Many parents and caregivers struggle to manage their kids’ use of technology. Whether it’s an elementary schooler binging YouTube shorts or a teen dealing with social media-induced anxiety, the struggles are real. In a recent Wirecutter reader survey, only 9% of parents said they felt confident managing their kids' tech use, and many felt overwhelmed by screen addiction and "brain rot" content.
 

This week, Wirecutter writers Signe Brewster and Ellen Lee walk us through their comprehensive guide on how and when to introduce different types of technology across every age. They discuss why tech addiction is often a broader societal issue (rather than an individual parenting failure), how to establish healthy digital habits early on, the pros and cons of location tracking, and practical tools to help older kids self-regulate before heading off on their own.

This episode covers: 

• Early tech for young kids: Experts recommend minimizing screens before age 2. When introducing media, stick to high-quality content and apps that have "walled gardens" where kids can safely make their own choices.
• Avoiding "dark patterns": How to spot predatory app designs that manipulate young kids into playing longer.
• How to approach location tracking: While tracking devices like AirTags and smartwatches offer peace of mind, they can inadvertently signal to kids that the world is unsafe or normalize constant surveillance. Experts suggest using tracking during transitional periods or as a temporary safety tool.
• Determining phone readiness: There is no single "magic age" for a first smartphone. Readiness depends on your child's maturity, independence, and specific daily needs.
• Social media and self-regulation: Navigating algorithmic feeds and FOMO can be a real challenge for teens. But tools exist for helping manage screen time, including self-regulation apps like Clearspace and physical focus devices like The Brick.

Products we recommend: 

• A device that blocks your most distracting apps: Brick
• PBS Kids Apps (for curated, high-quality preschool content)
• Common Sense Media (for age-appropriateness ratings and reviews).
• Signe loves: NÜDL bike helmets
• Ellen loves: Trader Joe’s Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

Additional reading:

• A Step-by-Step Tech Guide for Parents Who Live in the Real World
• 10 Tips for Managing (and Reducing) Your Kid’s Screen Time
• The Best Ways to Track Your Kid (And Why You Might Not Want To) 
• 6 Parents on How They Handle Tech
• “I Don’t Want to Spend Time Scrolling”: 7 Kids on How They Use Tech
• The 3 Best Parental-Control Apps to Manage Screen Time (and Keep Your Kid Safer Online) of 2026

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website

Instagram: /wirecutter

Threads: /@wirecutter

Twitter: /wirecutter

Facebook: /thewirecutter

TikTok: /wirecutter

LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter

Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/

Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast