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Nick December 14th, 2013 11:01 AM

Cell phones and children.
 
At what age do you think a child should have a cell phone?
Also, when do you feel it becomes necessary for someone to have one?

Mark Kamill December 14th, 2013 11:07 AM

After the age of 12, or around the beginning of puberty. In no way should a child need one until then, as usually they are still around their parents until that age. After 13 is when I also believe a child should be going around by itself, so that has to do with my answer a lot.

Sydian December 14th, 2013 11:12 AM

15 is when I got mine, so I say that. But if they have extra curricular activities that would require them to need to call you to pick them up or something, then whenever that starts to become a major part of their life. I needed a phone at 13 because I had no way to call my mom after games or practices, but she still never got me one til I was 15, which I felt was unfair. I really hated having to ask people to borrow theirs or ask for rides.

It wouldn't have to be a smart phone or anything major, either. I don't think people should start off with those kinds of phones, except for certain reasons (waiting until a certain higher age, saving up for it themselves, etc.) I guess I'm somewhat old fashioned when it comes to children and technology, haha. But my step brother got an iPhone at 12, which I felt was unnecessary. He had an iPad by age 10 and two Xbox 360's, one for each house. That's been something that's shaped how I view these kinds of things, really.

Esper December 14th, 2013 11:22 AM

I think that really young kids are probably the ones who would need them most because they'd be least likely to know what to do in an emergency and would need to be able to contact their parents. The older kids get the less need there is because they'll know how to take care of small things, how to plan ahead so they don't have a problem, and so on.

At least, that's how it ought to work. Most people of any age aren't that responsible or good at planning so they'd probably need constant help.

hughes December 14th, 2013 1:39 PM

I think it's okay for children to get a phone when they're in middle school, particularly if they're involved in activities, but not a smartphone. It would be important to make sure they are responsible enough to handle a cell phone before they get something bigger, especially since smartphones can get expensive if they're used a lot.

I didn't get one until I was 16, but I really needed one before then. I always had to use someone's phone at practices and games.

Palkia December 14th, 2013 2:29 PM

Young children should have a basic phone like a nokia 1110 (loved that phone as a kid) with no camera or advanced features before giving them a smartphone when they are in there teenage years. I think phones are a vital part of a child's development as it allows them to communicate with there peers much more easily.

Knor December 14th, 2013 2:33 PM

I got my first phone at 13, and I really only used it for texting... I later got an iPod Touch, found that it did the same things as my phone for free, and I stopped using my phone. I now have an iPhone without a plan on it, because I realize that I'm just not the type of person that really has need for a phone.

When should kids get phones? Probably around 12-14ish. But it doesn't have to be a smart phone. Something that'll perhaps help make an emergency call, or shoot off a quick text. Having a smart phone is a little more expensive, and that should come when/if the kid has become more responsible/trustworthy about going over data, etc.

Sirfetch’d December 14th, 2013 8:36 PM

I got my first phone at 13, but I honestly think it just depends on the child. If he or she is very responsible and has proven worthy of owning one. I say any age is appropriate but even some kids who are in their late teens aren't responsible enough to have one, haha. I'd say that the average age of owning a phone nowadays is about 11-12 years old.

Quinn December 15th, 2013 12:04 AM

Call me old fashion, but "Need" one? Heck i leave mine at home all the time, though every one at work gets pissed. I say that it depends on the child.

Melody December 15th, 2013 4:01 AM

At the age where you as a parent deem the child mature enough to do these things:
  • Roam freely about the neighborhood
  • Visit the homes of Friends/Family/Neighbors independently
  • Go to places in public like the movies/mall/skate park/whatever else there is to do in town that is legal and age appropriate.
  • Responsibly use cell phone in moderation, and not cause a large bill to be incurred or require a large or excessive amount of money to be pre-loaded* onto the account. * = (prepaid phones)
  • Responsibly use cell phone to keep in contact with parents to inform them of major changes in plans or itinerary
  • Answer phone immediately if possible so that they can be located in case the parent must require them to return home, go somewhere else, or locate them.

Ideally, I'd say the age where this is possible is usually about 12 or 13. But this varies, and not all kids are ready at that age. Some may not be this responsible until 15 or 16 even, but I find that to be a bit extreme personally even though I would not judge a parent negatively for something like this.

Some of the above requirements can be waived with things like Prepaid Phones and other tactics, but those are the general "guidelines" I've always seen applied. I don't have any children yet myself but that doesn't mean I wouldn't.

Kikaito plush December 15th, 2013 4:25 AM

I would say the day they enter high school is the time they should get an mobile as the ages before then they should be with an adult at all time when outside.

Poki December 15th, 2013 7:34 AM

I saw 7 year olds with iPhones and ****. I don't even have a smartphone, damn.

Not that I want one, though. I only use my phone to communicate with my family, and friends.

Tsutarja December 15th, 2013 7:44 AM

I received my first phone at the age of 11.. but that was mainly because I needed to contact my mother what time to pick me up at my bus stop afterschool, because sometimes I was the first one off, and sometimes the last one off of the school bus because my bus driver had to often-double back for runs at the school.

To this day I still do not have a smartphone, let alone an unlimited everything plan.

mikey December 15th, 2013 1:22 PM

I feel like the first year of high school is the perfect time to have a cellphone. That is when I first got my phone. I just don't see why you would need one before that. I absolutely hate seeing little kids with phones.

antemortem December 15th, 2013 3:24 PM

Considering how dependant people are on communication nowadays and the importance of younger children keeping in contact with their parents now that modern kids are becoming more and more independant at a younger age, the sooner, the better. I don't care what kind of phone it is, but the dependence of younger children on their parents is really declining, and kids should have a way to keep in touch when they're away with their friends and whatnot. Having a phone is a good first responsibility to place upon kids as well.

Shining Raichu December 16th, 2013 5:05 PM

After much discussion it was decided that this thread should go in D&D, so I'm gonna move it there :)

«Chuckles» December 16th, 2013 6:52 PM

I see a lot of kids around my area with smartphones and stuff. I personally will never need a phone until I leave home because I'm very independent and the buses around Here can take me anywhere so I don't need a phone and I hate talking on the phone for some reason I just hate it. I only need an iPod touch so I can play angry birds when I don't feel like staring at strangers on the bus and listen to music.

Kanzler December 18th, 2013 3:47 PM

I'd say around 12 or 13. I agree with Melody, that's around the age when kids start roving around without parental supervision. Cell phones give you the ability to communicate on demand, which isn't so much a luxury nowadays as a legitimate investment. People in developing countries, for example in Africa, consider a cell phone a major investment - it's just so useful as a communication tool. When cell phone penetration is reaching 70% in Nigeria, you know that's when cell phones are becoming the norm for everybody. It's a sign of our times.

twocows December 20th, 2013 3:14 PM

"Necessary?" I have a degree in computer science and work in IT and I don't have one of the darn things. They're never necessary and anyone who suggests otherwise is being silly.

zakisrage December 21st, 2013 9:13 AM

I think 14 or 15 is a good age to start, though I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16. I would have gotten one at 14, but my parents didn't think I was responsible enough at the time.

Phantom December 25th, 2013 10:27 PM

I remember back when I was little cellphones were a rare thing to have, almost anywhere. But I had a pager my parents gave me so they could contact me when I was playing in the neighborhood. I was the first kid in my class to have a cell phone, sixth grade. And I was the ONLY one to have a phone until eight grade. Thing is I was involved in school activities and sports, and I walked home, so it was a safety thing, and the only people I called were my parents. It wasn't like back then I had friends I could call (why use minutes) and texting didn't even exist as a thing back then.

I think now getting a cell phone has become something like a coming of age thing. It's one step closer to being more of an adult. But I think that parents still need to have control over their childs account. I know people who have their kid get a pre-pay plan that they pay out of their allowance.

I think strict rules need to be enforced. I also don't think phones should be allowed in grade schools. (Like in class)

Nakala Pri December 26th, 2013 2:07 AM

Not until they're like, eighteen. O.O 'Cos let's say you leave your kid alone for a second in a store while you make a phone call, then a rock spider asks the kid if he wants his phone number. Seeing as the kid want's to have tons of contacts and be 'cool', he'll accept, the parent won't know and the rock spider will phone when the kid is in bed or somewhere private and leech information.

You can't trust the world these days.

acatfrommars December 26th, 2013 10:20 AM

I received my first cell phone at 12 I believe. That was only because I had after school activities like every day after school and needed one starting middle school. It was just a cheap flip phone too, but I thought it was awesome at the time.

I think children in 4th. grade or lower do not need phones. Unless you need to call some one or text some one, then a phone is not necessary. What do kids in 3rd. grade need phones for!? It baffles me when I see an 8 year old with an Instagram! One doesn't need a cell phone until they are socially mature enough.

Creme December 26th, 2013 2:43 PM

I don't really see any reason for them to have one before late elementary school/early middle school. And that's mainly just for safety reasons.

But as long as a kid is able to handle it properly, then I don't see the big deal with younger kids having their own phones/computers/etc. I would rather kids just be taught to be safe and responsible, rather than either coddle them, or treat them like irresponsible idiots instead.

The majority of the time, if a kid is an idiot, it's because their parent is also an idiot. Meaning that if you're a decent parent, you usually don't have to worry about your child turning out the opposite. (ignoring the inevitable issues during puberty and the occasional bad eggs, of course)

Evanlyn December 26th, 2013 7:55 PM

It would vary. I'd say, when they actually need it. Around 15 would be a good age, but if you're 13ish and are going out a lot to practices or whatever, and you need to contact your parents, then you'd need one, so you'd get one.

For me, I was homeschooled my entire life, I didn't need a phone until this year, when I started going to a study institution. So, at 17 years of age, I got a phone.

When you are mature not to go absolutely crazy on it and/or need it to contact people, then get one. But if you're 10 or other, then I don't you'd need one.

jamessullivan96 December 27th, 2013 1:41 AM

i think that 12 is a good age to get a phone,i have seen alot of 5 year olds getting the newest phones too much,i got my first one when i was 12 and it was a simple nokia phone that would just make phone calls and send text messages and i would use it for when i was out of school and i had to catch up on homework.

mayuyu December 28th, 2013 8:38 PM

I don't think you can put an age on it.
I knew a girl that had had after-school programs since she was 7 and had to stay at school until 6 every day. If that was my child, you'd bet I'd give them a phone. Now I don't know if I'd get them an iPhone, but an old Nokia would be just fine.

MKGirlism December 28th, 2013 11:42 PM

When I was a child, I didn't get a Phone, until I was 13 years old, same with any other child.
All I could do on it, was making Phone Calls, writing SMS, and play some Snake.
Even the Gameboy Pocket was way more advanced than any Mobile Phone available, back then.
Children could only have PrePaid, because parents understood a Subscription would be way to risky for their children.

Today? Today even 6 year olds carry an iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, or some random BlackBerry with them, preferably with the most expensive Subscription for 2 years.
Phones these days will even surpass the PS4 soon, in terms of power!

I actually have a mixed opinion about all this.
Giving your children a Smartphone on an early age will distract them in class, and will 'zombify' while you look at it.

At the other hand, it does give a better communication with your child.
Did he/she get lost in the woods? Just call, SMS, Email, etc. him/her, and you know it. Simple!
Besides, giving your children an old Phone to start with might seem like a better idea, but they tend to throw it in a corner, making you have no contact with them at all.
Besides, children get jealous quick, especially when they tell you something like, "Everything from my class has an iPhone, why can't I have one?!".
Them being the only ones with an old Phone does hurt them, and it probably hurts you too (depending on what kind of mother/father you are).

Livewire January 1st, 2014 7:46 PM

I would say that 15 or 16 would be a good age for a phone, say an iPhone or something to that effect. You're old enough now to drive and have a job, and probably an 8th grader or a freshman in High School, right about the age you begin to 'grow up', so to speak. It's a good age to begin to learn more responsibility. And at that age, you'd probably actually need one, for said job, driving, socializing, etc, more so than just "wanting" one.

LoudSilence January 2nd, 2014 7:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twocows (Post 7996824)
"Necessary?" I have a degree in computer science and work in IT and I don't have one of the darn things. They're never necessary and anyone who suggests otherwise is being silly.

No cell phone even in IT? Wow, respect.

I think it's funny how a lot of us use the word "necessary" when once upon a time the item didn't even exist...we managed then, didn't we? I know people might cite concerns about child safety and needing to have a communication device at the ready but lets face it: children can get lost/abducted today the same way they did 30 years ago. It's hardly a fail-safe.

That's not even taking radiation concerns into account and device addiction: we've created a rather abhorrent culture of using phones all day every day, and the majority of the time it's not even for calling. There's a serious social disconnect nowadays because children are more accustomed to screens rather than faces, text rather than spoken words.

If I felt it were absolutely "necessary" (I don't know if/how I would), I'd give my kid a brick Nokia that can literally only make calls and put a minute limit on it for exclusive emergencies only (911 bypasses this anyway).

MKGirlism January 2nd, 2014 8:10 AM

"Help! This School is on fire, and hundreds of children are still inside"!

"Then why don't you call 112"?

"Well, you're the one who said it's never necessary to have a Phone, right"?

LoudSilence January 2nd, 2014 8:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKGirlism (Post 8018220)
"Help! This School is on fire, and hundreds of children are still inside"!

"Then why don't you call 112"?

"Well, you're the one who said it's never necessary to have a Phone, right"?

Because only that one 10 year old student has a phone and can save the day? This scenario has many possible solutions. Also, what do you think happened back when cell phones didn't exist and schools caught on fire?

This extends to any other "dangerous" situation you can think of, really. There's really no common scenario where a phone in a child's hands will truly prevent or help avert a crisis.

Kanzler January 2nd, 2014 7:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoudSilence (Post 8018245)
This extends to any other "dangerous" situation you can think of, really. There's really no common scenario where a phone in a child's hands will truly prevent or help avert a crisis.

I think that's just the case, phones are your last-ditch option in those 1% or 0.1% occurrence moments. It's hard to call anything necessary and that's mostly an argument about semantics so I won't go into that. However, I do think that phones provide a lot of utility, so much that I'd probably give my own child one at 12 or 13.

That being said my sister is horribly addicted to her phone with youtube and games and all. In the future it seems more and more difficult to find a phone without all the bells and whistles, that only do talk and text. However, I'll say that the extra communication wins out over whatever distractions might come out of it. If my kid isn't stuck to a phone, he'll probably be on something else anyways.

Lunarose January 5th, 2014 12:17 PM

I think it really depends on what their situation is. I've known of kids as young as like 9 who would have to take public transportation to get to school and for safety reasons needed a cell phone just in case.

I got a simple flip phone when I was 10 due to my school being far away from home. Phones were never really a thing and the only social media we had was email, lol. Once we all got to middle school it began with texting friends but that's pretty much it.

I really don't see why a young kid would need an iphone though, I feel like that's a waste of money and it'd probably break anyway. I see that a lot more often nowadays.

LoudSilence January 6th, 2014 7:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlahISuck (Post 8019301)
I think that's just the case, phones are your last-ditch option in those 1% or 0.1% occurrence moments. It's hard to call anything necessary and that's mostly an argument about semantics so I won't go into that. However, I do think that phones provide a lot of utility, so much that I'd probably give my own child one at 12 or 13.

That being said my sister is horribly addicted to her phone with youtube and games and all. In the future it seems more and more difficult to find a phone without all the bells and whistles, that only do talk and text. However, I'll say that the extra communication wins out over whatever distractions might come out of it. If my kid isn't stuck to a phone, he'll probably be on something else anyways.

I can see that 1%, but as we both touched upon, (smart) phone addiction is a serious issue and I think the cons outweigh the pros by a mile. Phones with only basic capabilities are definitely being phased out and it's going to be harder to offset this issue by just buying our children obsolete devices. And I'd much rather they be stuck on books or something educational than 99 cent time-wasters and social media apps.

And again about that radiation...I'd really like to find some solid studies on it because that is serious enough to consider when introducing kids to anything.

obZen January 7th, 2014 6:42 PM

I got my first cell phone when I was 14, right before I graduated 8th grade.
But things have changed a lot since then.
Nowadays, with the smart phone revolution, I'm not sure if 14 is early enough.
I would feel bad that a 3rd grader may feel out of the loop, but there has to come a point where one draws the line.
Ipod touches and whatnot are ok to start with.
If anything, a younger child should have a phone like The Disney phone iirc so that the parents can keep track of where he/she is.
So... Junior High imo for a smart phone

Toutebelle January 21st, 2014 9:02 AM

I got my first cell phone at 18. Outside of school, I rarely leave the house by myself, so I really didn't need one until college. (I dropped out of college last year, and I'm in a day program now.)

Karinmo January 21st, 2014 9:44 AM

I only got one when I was young because I walked to school allot, and due to this, I needed something to call my Mama if anything went wrong.

But outside of a reason similar to mine (which i think is a valid reason) children do not need cell phones. Until you are maybe in Jr. high (in this day and age) cell phones are completely unneccesary to children.

Banz January 26th, 2014 6:11 AM

I got my first phone when I was 17. It was actually 4 years ago, on this day. I'd always wanted one since I was 13-14 mostly for playing games, since I didn't have a computer or back then. Back then I used to come home in the late evenings (9-10 pm) but I did fine without one. Payphones were common back then so I could make urgent calls if I wanted.
Even today most of my calls are the "Where are you?, I'm here" type and last less than 10 seconds.

14-15 seems to be an appropriate age for giving someone a phone and I think they should be given a cheaper phone like a Galaxy Y or something. A lot of kids don't understand the value of their expensive smartphones and end up losing them or breaking them.

LaVida January 26th, 2014 6:29 AM

Well, I personally think that basic cell phones such as the ones which don't have a camera and Internet are very useful, especially in case of emergency. I think every child above 8 should have one of these because they can come in handy... But when it comes to the "advanced" smart phones... I wouldn't give one to my child until age 15 or 16 or so. Well, I don't have a smart phone myself and I'm completely fine with a "normal" phone, so I don't see a point why my child should get a smart phone anyway.

I think it's bad that children nowadays are exposed to so much phones, Internet etc. Children should be playing outside most of the time and not stare on screens.

Puddle January 26th, 2014 6:33 AM

I think around 6th grade is when a child should get some form of cell phone. It's always nice to have the communication with them when they are hanging with a friend or something.

A couple months ago, I saw an 8 year old with an Instagram using Tags for Likes and trying to do methods to gain likes. That's just ridiculous.

Raine January 27th, 2014 8:21 PM

I got my first cellphone during high school mainly because that was during the time when I started showing signs of independence and separating myself from the protective bubble my parents have placed me in for 14 years. So, whenever children start hanging out with their friends on their own outside of parental supervision I think would be a good time. Otherwise, I don't particularly see a need for them to be having them in middle school. Nowadays I think kids are growing up way too fast.


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