Cell phones and children.

[Nick]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[«Chuckles»]

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]

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]

"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]

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.