Maine ranked third safest U.S. state for children with cell phones

A new national study by WellPCB has ranked Maine as the third safest state in the United States for children owning cell phones. The research evaluated safety based on the average age children receive their first device and the frequency of cybercrime complaints per state.

Maine achieved a low “phone danger score” of 10.76, trailing only Mississippi and Idaho. The study attributes this ranking to Maine parents delaying smartphone use; the average age for a child to receive their first phone in the state is 11.85 years old. Additionally, Maine reported 152.1 cybercrime complaints per 100,000 residents, contributing to a lower overall risk profile compared to other states.