The Connected Family

The Connected Family

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The Connected Family
The Connected Family
What to do when your nine year old's friend gets an iPhone

What to do when your nine year old's friend gets an iPhone

This newsletter is based on a true story.

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Emily Thomas
May 15, 2025
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The Connected Family
The Connected Family
What to do when your nine year old's friend gets an iPhone
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I dearly love all my readers, it’s true… but I have one friend in particular who’s near the top of the heap. She’s been a paid subscriber to TCF from the jump, a loyal cheerleader who champions the small business side of The Connected Family rather more than I do. She’s also the most delightful reader, frequently texting me encouragement or — better yet — success stories from tips she’s tried with her own two kids. (No quicker way to a writer’s heart!)

She also likes to keep me busy with future topic ideas. And whoo boy — she sent me a doozy a few weeks ago:

Can’t you just feel the frustration, the social anxiety, the defeat humming off this text message?

😔, indeed.

I quickly sent her a voice memo back, sharing a few thoughts about how I might handle the situation. My advice, though, was theoretical, as this is not a situation our family has dealt with… yet. (While I hope that’s true for many more years, I know it’s more likely our turn is right around the corner.) And that got me thinking: what, exactly, would I do if it were one of June’s neighborhood friends who had been given a phone? That question rolled around in my mind until I had an answer, and so today I thought I’d share where I’ve settled. Whether you tuck it away or use it immediately, I hope it’s helpful. Let’s get into it…

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