This only works if the kid lives somewhere with robust public transportation between their and their friends houses, or if they own their own vehicle. Assuming

This only works if the kid lives somewhere with robust public transportation between their and their friends houses, or if they own their own vehicle. Assuming neither, they're probably getting picked up and dropped off by a parent or other family member, with dropoff/pickup schedules arranged in advance. It's less, "I don't need a phone cos I can go where I want until dinnertime," and more, "My mom will be driving 25 minutes to pick me up at 4PM, and my friends spontaneously decided to go bowling. I can only ask her when she gets here, but that would mean she needs to drive another hour and fifteen minutes."