"Should I Let My Teen Son Have a Smartphone?" (The Patrick Madrid Show)

Catherine from Indiana calls into The Patrick Madrid Show, facing some serious phone drama with her 15-year-old son. Her son argues: “Everyone else has a smartphone, why not me?” and “I’m almost 18; shouldn’t I start learning how to use one now?” Typical teenager logic, right?   Patrick gets it, but he breaks down the big differences between 15 and 18. Even a couple of years make a big maturity difference. He warns that having a smartphone doesn’t enhance social life; it actually stunts it. Instead of meeting friends face-to-face, they’ll just text or DM all day. Patrick’s not anti-texting, but he’s all about the real connection. 💬   Then, Patrick brings up the porn issue. He bluntly reminds Catherine that once her son has a smartphone, access to pornography is practically inevitable. It’s a constant battle, and sadly, even the most tech-savvy kids find ways to dodge restrictions. Catherine admits they’ve already had this issue; her son has been sneaking around the filters.    Patrick’s advice? Hold the line.  “There’s no benefit whatsoever to giving a 15-year-old a smartphone,” he says. It's like giving a device that drains time, weakens attention spans, and pours in bad ideologies, all contrary to the Catholic faith.    He acknowledges the pressure: the other kids have phones, but hey, Patrick reminds Catherine, “You’re responsible for his soul, not theirs.” Tough love, but it's what being a parent is all about, right?    He even adds a cheeky little note: there are plenty of adults who still can't handle smartphones (many 25-year-olds have a TikTok addiction 😅). So, stand firm, Catherine!   For parents looking for alternatives, Patrick recommends Charity Mobile, a Catholic, pro-life phone company that donates 5% of your bill to a charity of your choice. They’ve got the high-end phones if needed, but also simpler phones that make it harder to stumble into trouble online.   At the end of the day, it’s all about protecting your kid’s soul, even if it means a little friction now.     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.