When is it appropriate for a child (under 18 years old) to get an email address?

Question

I'm a parent conducting research and looking for feedback from others who have gone through this experience

Answer 1

i've had an email address since i was 12/13ish, just as long as you can somewhat monitor the usage of it, it should be okay to have it even younger.

Answer 2

13, but remind (NOT lecture) the child that this is a privilege and not a given.

Answer 3

When ever you think that they are responsible enough for it. Just make sure that you have the password and that you monitor what they are using it for. Privacy is a privilege and as long as they earn it you should respect it, but when they live in your house their business is yours as well. Considering their mistakes could not only effect them but you. It all depends on the child and if you think they are ready. I had an email address at like 12 and my brothers where even younger than that. My husbands parents keep passwords to everything his brothers have, but only check it if the boys start acting different or if they think they are doing something they shouldn't.

Answer 4

In this day and age, I think everyone should have an email.  I think we should be teaching our kids how to operate a computer and the more useful things that can be done with them (learning instead of playing, research instead of myspace, ect) as soon as they physically can sit at the comp.

However, what I think more to the point you are asking.....   My child's computer activities and email will be monititored until they are a teenager and they have shown me that I can trust them to use it appropriately.  And even then, I am all for spot checks..  I dont snope, but I am all for when susy comes home it spot check day.  We would both go to the computer together, she logs on to her email and I randomly choose 2-5 emails to read.  Just the same as spot room checks.

Answer 5

i'm 15 and i got mine in 7th grade

Answer 6

about 9 or 10

Answer 7

There is nothing wrong at all with a child having an email address.  Everyone has one.  My kids have had them since they were 8 and they email friends and family.  Parents should just monitor.

Answer 8

You should only really 'monitor' their emails if they're under 14 and you have good reason to. Say, if your daughter starts seeing a boy who you don't like and acting up.That can be justified, but I have perfectly sensible friends of 15, 16 and still have their parents watching their computers like hawks and monitoring their IMs and emails. That's really not fair. Though if you have a very mature 13 year old- I think it's okay to let them have and email address without checking their emails.  

Answer 9

i got one when i was 10, because all my friends had Msn so i missed talking to them!

I think 10+

Answer 10

I got my first e-mail address when I was 8. Of course my parents monitored it. But 12 and 13 is a little old to have your first e-mail address. Unless your child has a cell phone. Letting your child have an e-mail address can be good. Less talk time on the phone so you can use it.

Just a thought.

Answer 11

I think it would depend on what the child wanted it for.  If they want to correspond with family members or friends that you know than it probably wouldn't matter what age they are. Rules and requirements are definitely a must.

Answer 12

11 or 12

Answer 13

Reality check - it may not even be up to you.  The kids get "official" email at school nowadays, although those systems are usually tightly controlled to allow only school-related messages.  But they can also get access to computers almost anywhere, and many kids set up  their own personal email without their parents knowing.  All they have to do is lie about their age, and they can get an account.  Once they have an email address, they can get accounts on myspace and other networking sites. If a kid wants to keep their activity secret from their parents, it's very easy.

That's why it's so important to educate them early about safe and appropriate computer use. Parents and the schools should work together on this.  If they asked for permission to get email I would let them, but I'd insist on having access to all their accounts until they are at least 15 or 16.  In my experience, it's the younger teens who are most naive about these things and who are most likely to use them inappropriately.  But older kids do it too.  

Answer 14

I've had an email adress since I was 10.  

Answer 15

I would say that 12 years old is ok with parental monitoring.