Maine ranks among the safest US states for children’s smartphone use

A study by electronics manufacturer WellPCB placed Maine third in a ranking of the safest U.S. states for children who own smartphones. The ranking, based on a "phone danger score" that combines the average age at which children receive their first phone (11.85 years in Maine) and the number of cybercrime complaints per 100,000 residents (152.1 in Maine), gave the state a score of 10.76 out of 100. Mississippi topped the list with a score of 2.68, followed by Idaho, which tied with Maine.

WellPCB spokesperson Hommer Zhao said the findings highlight the importance of introducing technology at an appropriate age and with proper safeguards. The study used age data from a Secure Data Recovery report and cybercrime figures from the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center Annual Report. Only 40 states were included due to data limitations.