At what age should you give your child a telephone in Luxembourg?

The issue has never been so hot. In the space of a few months, Luxembourg has banned smartphones from primary schools, France is preparing a law to ban social networking for under-15s, and Australia has become the first country in the world to close TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat to its citizens under 16. Which rekindles the debate: at what age should you give your first smartphone to a child in Luxembourg?

What is Luxembourg's policy on supervising children's telephones?

All scientific studies converge in demonstrating that excessive digital consumption among young people leads to problems with mental health, physical development and a drop in school results. That's why :

• In September 2024, Education Minister Claude Meisch launched the " Screen Life Balance », making the balance between digital and real life a national priority.
• Since 22 April 2025, smartphones and connected devices are totally banned in basic schools - throughout the school day, including recess. Pupils who need their phones to be contactable before or after school must keep them switched off and stored in their schoolbag. In the event of an offence, the device may be confiscated until the end of the day.

For the high schools, The Ministry has adopted a more nuanced approach, proposing three regulatory models:

• The basic model, in which students are physically separated from their smartphones during lessons.
• The intermediate model, which extends restrictions to certain areas or time slots (use may only be authorised in the canteen, for example).
• The strictest model, where equipment is handed over on arrival and returned at the end of the day.

Out of 38 secondary schools in Luxembourg, 27 have chosen the intermediate model, 5 the strict model and 6 the basic model. Some schools have even created «disconnection zones» marked on the ground in the playground. the different scenarios).

As a parent in Luxembourg: should you forbid or allow?

The first thing to consider is that :

• Up to 11-12 years, the smartphone is totally prohibited on school premises
• From age 12 the smartphone is tolerated but very closely supervised since 2 June 2025. There is at least one compulsory physical separation during lessons.

In Luxembourg, the age of 11-12 seems to be a good starting point for introducing children to the telephone., As long as you do it gradually.

This is exactly the position of Luxembourg's digital education experts. BEE SECURE, the leading Luxembourg government initiative, advocates a balanced approach. No bans. No laissez-face. For BEE SECURE, the key is the’progressive support.

The «3-6-9-12» principles applied to mobile phones

The «Apprivoiser les écrans et grandir» campaign, relayed in Luxembourg by BEE SECURE, is inspired by the principles of psychoanalyst Serge Tisseron to define four progressive stages:

• Before the age of 3 : no screens. Children need direct human interaction to develop.
• Ages 3 to 6 : very limited exposure and always accompanied. No personal games console.
• Ages 6 to 9 : supervised discovery of the Internet. Clear time and content limits need to be set.
• Ages 9 to 12 : the first steps towards independence on the Internet, with properly configured parental controls and regular discussions about what the child sees online.

Applied to the question of the first smartphone, this framework suggests that a smartphone is generally not needed before the age of 9-10. And when it does arrive, it should be accompanied by three pillars: technical control, family dialogue and rules drawn up together (parents and children).

7 golden rules for your child's first smartphone

Based on the recommendations of BEE SECURE and European best practice, here are the 7 rules for parents in Luxembourg:

1. Activate parental control as soon as you unpack the deviceBefore handing the phone over to your child, set up content filtering, screen time limits and application restrictions. This is the minimum safety net.
2. Choose a suitable, locked-in package: A fixed price prevents any financial overruns and teaches children to manage a budget. It is also an educational tool.
3. Draw up a family mobile charterDefine the rules together: no phones at the table, no screens after a certain time, no smartphones in the bedroom at night. Children are more likely to respect the rules they have helped to create.
4. Discover the apps together: Install the first applications with your child. Explain to them why certain content is unsuitable for their age and show them the reflexes they should have in all circumstances.
5. Talk about the risks without over-dramatising. Cyberbullying, offensive content, scams, sextortion: tackle these subjects without terrifying your child, but by giving them the right reflexes (talk to an adult, block, report).
6. Set an exampleChildren imitate adults. If you are constantly on your own smartphone, it will be difficult to ask them to limit their use. Lead the way and try to reduce your use too, or use your smartphone when your children are in bed.
7. Know how to change the rulesTotal parental control at 10 is not the same as at 14. Gradually ease the restrictions to support your child's growing independence. This requires dialogue, openness and understanding.

The 2 key principles for parents

The real challenge comes at home, where children spend most of their time connected to the internet, and where screens can be numerous or even omnipresent (television, computers, games consoles, etc.).

Parents should therefore adopt two key principles, which will then determine how their child develops with their phone:

Choosing the right mobile package

The first concrete step in equipping your child is choosing a mobile package. A package designed for children is not just a classic package in a reduced version: it's a tool that incorporates the notion of child protection right from the design stage. The last thing you need is a cheap adult package, but one that is genuinely dedicated to children.

Here are the key features to look for:

• A blocked package, to rule out any risk of overruns and surprise bills
• Integrated parental control, with screen time management, content filtering and application restriction
• Reliable geolocation, to find out where your child is in real time
• Automatic filtering of inappropriate content on mobile and Wi-Fi networks

In Luxembourg, Tango offers fully child-friendly packages with its «GO)) kids» range. These packages include, for example, control of screen time and content, protection against malicious sites and full parental control. via the Bitdefender reference application.

Dialogue as much as possible

BEE SECURE insists on one point that technology alone cannot solve: dialogue.

• Regularly ask your child what they've seen online, what they think of it, and what has impressed or disturbed them.
• Explain that not everything you see on the Internet is reality (especially in the age of artificial intelligence!).
• Finally, involve other trusted adults - grandparents, baby-sitters, carers - in this shared vigilance.

In the event of a problem BEE SECURE Helpline (8002 1234) offers free and confidential advice, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, for children, young people, parents and carers.