My kiddo also didn't get a smart phone until she was 16. I work in mental health, I've worked with kids addicted to screens, and just as addicted to constant comparisons or validation. I tell people all the time to limit screens and that there's really no reason for a child under 11/12 to have a phone, much less a smart phone.

I will say, so much access/interaction between peers at middle school now is text related that I begrudgingly accept that cell phones are here for good. But if I were king, I'd say no kid can have a smart phone until they're 16. Flip phone from 12-16.