We got my 11-year-old a cell phone due to the nature of her soccer and after-school commitments. We don't want her to be on an island in case something goes late or if there are other scheduling issues that arise due to other kids. That's what worked for us, but she isn't a text-hungry, surfing the net type kid....yet.

We have safeguards in general on the internet in our own home, but also an iPhone has the protections you can toggle and password protect that won't allow for pretty much everything if you toggle it on.

All cell phones and other devices go on a shelf by 9 pm each night downstairs and plugged in. No one takes them off until after family prayer in the morning.