In this episode, Melanie tackles two of the most common issues concerning smartphones and your kids and teens: the age of 13 as the "appropriate age" of having a smartphone and the concept of phone contracts. 

For the first issue, Melanie responds to the question of "Why do parents believe that 13 has become the new age of adulthood on the internet?" The answer may surprise you. For the second issue, Melanie challenges the concept of the family phone contract. She stresses that healthy activities do not require contracts, which leads to the question, how is your family's phone contract working for you? 

Episode References:
COPPA imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age. (REFERENCE)

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Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin