Children with Cellphones

[Brighter.Tomorrow]

What's everyone's opinion of children who have cellphones?
I babysit several children who are under 10 and have cellphones, and they come in great use to call they're parents as they're simple flipphones.
But one kid I babysit, Jared, is 9 and has a 64GB iPhone and is constantly on it, that to me is ridiculous.
So, do you think it's okay for children to have cellphones, do you think there should be exceptions or do you think they shouldn't have them atall?

[conniption]

I didn't even know what a cellphone was until I was nine lol. My family doesn't speak English so of course they wouldn't really be up to date with today's technology, so the fact that I see kids younger than 10 that have cellphones just doesn't seem right. But it's probably just me.

I still can't believe that kid has a better phone than me lol.

[Professional Russian]

Should 9 year olds have Iphones? fuck no what do they even do with it? suck on it or something?

[Green Arrow]

Personally I don't think children under 10 need a phone, give them a iPod touch instead. All they use them for is games and apps etc. :)

[fast8]

there should be no need for child under 12 to have a phone

[FreeFall]

I've got double standards towards it.

If it's a 10 year old that just sit in the house all day, they don't need one and in my opinion shouldn't have one.

If it's a 10 year old that's out and about, has two working parents, or runs errands often then they should have a phone, think something like a jitterbug, to keep in contact, the gps feature to track the kid, and double check with parents.

[Professional Russian]

I've got double standards towards it.

If it's a 10 year old that just sit in the house all day, they don't need one and in my opinion shouldn't have one.

If it's a 10 year old that's out and about, has two working parents, or runs errands often then they should have a phone, think something like a jitterbug, to keep in contact, the gps feature to track the kid, and double check with parents.

Not an Iphone though thats just fucking wrong.

[StoppingTime]

It's a complete matter of opinion, and parenting style.
I don't see how it's "just fucking wrong" for a 9 or 10 year old to have an iPhone. Does that mean it is what I would choose to do? No. But I don't see how it is wrong.
Unless someone is physically or emotionally harming their child according to their style of parenting, I really don't care.

If you want my opinion on it:
I don't think, in most cases at least, children under the age of 12 or 13 really should have smartphones. Does that mean I think it's wrong if they do? No, I couldn't care either way.

[Akasuki]

If you can afford it, then go for it.

[slowmo]

Personally, I don't think they are needed until either high school, or when you start driving t now that I look back on it. I got mine at 12. And, texted 24/7. Now, I hardly use it for anything, call my parents, and text few people as possible.

PS: I don't have internet or anything.

[Zarakly]

Personally I think that having just a trac fone is great. But children with the newest, most high tech cell phone to me is ridiculous. I don't even have a phone yet. I'm getting a trac fone next month though. I think it is alright to have a trac fone so you can make calls or get rides if you need them. You don't really even need texting. I know I wont be texting...
You should have seen me the other day when I was borrowing my friends phone. I seemed like a"old person". I had no idea how to do anything with it. They had to type it in to me, then calling really confused me because I either held it up to my ear or my mouth because of how small the phones are..

[Jonny Caselli]

What's everyone's opinion of children who have cellphones?
I babysit several children who are under 10 and have cellphones, and they come in great use to call they're parents as they're simple flipphones.
But one kid I babysit, Jared, is 9 and has a 64GB iPhone and is constantly on it, that to me is ridiculous.
So, do you think it's okay for children to have cellphones, do you think there should be exceptions or do you think they shouldn't have them atall?


well Im 13 and do not have a phone - but we have a spare at home I can use or take with me maybe if I was going somewhere

It seems to me to many kids spend to much time on phones and say face book etc but then thats just my opinion.

However we live in the digital age so the kids need to learnabout it all

[FullyAlive]

I had my first phone at age 10. It did come in useful as the following year I started secondary school and left all of my friends. I would also play down in the field and my mum could call me to come home. I think phones are actually good for children in one respect they do make it safer to let your children play outside etc.

As for them being smart phones, well I had the better phones from when I was 10 except back then it was flip phones, then slide phones and on. So really children today are only getting what I know I did and many of my friends back then did, the most up to date and affordable phones. Except now more often than not this will be a smart phone not a flip phone like we had.

Lol whilst I may be jealous of the ones with iPhones I don't have a problem with it or think its wrong if their parents can afford it, and they can be trusted with it what is the problem. I'd hope their usage was limited and monitored but that would be down to each set of parents.

[Professional Russian]

I don't see how it's "just fucking wrong" for a 9 or 10 year old to have an iPhone.

I know this directed at me so i'm gonna reply. Its the way i am. i've never had an iPhone and don't see any use for them other than to look good. i can the same thing with my alias 2 as i can do with an iPhone.

[Cicero]

Well whatever they're parents wanna get him is there business. I would only give my son a iPhone like that if we were really rich. But I believe cellphones are great for kids, because if something happened where they need help or got lost. They have their phone to use.

[FreeFall]

Not an Iphone though thats just fucking wrong.
That's why I said something like a jitterbug.
An iPhone's too "advanced" a phone for someone that's probably still interested in the play barbie phones full of candy (meaning those 10 and under). That and I have a bias to anything Apple, I'm not a fan.
Frankly I personally feel like it's a waste for anyone to have a super awesome phone and not really have a reason to use it. Business calls, business data, meetings, dates, etc. But just to play angry birds, there's like a kindle for that right?

[Stephan]

What's everyone's opinion of children who have cellphones?
I babysit several children who are under 10 and have cellphones, and they come in great use to call they're parents as they're simple flipphones.
But one kid I babysit, Jared, is 9 and has a 64GB iPhone and is constantly on it, that to me is ridiculous.
So, do you think it's okay for children to have cellphones, do you think there should be exceptions or do you think they shouldn't have them atall?

Regarding this issue, I believe cellphones should be first introduced to children/teens during the tender ages of middle school where communication is often needed with friends and family members when they have to attend a club meeting, sports meets, etc.

9 years old however is..a bit leaning towards the young side and I'm guessing he likes to be spoiled by his folks. I didn't get my first cellphone until I was in highschool..yeah not much of a social person but heh I use it only when I need to communicate with others.

[BrassMonkey]

I personally dont think anyone under 12 should have a cell phone. Its just too young for kids to have a $200 plus phone and they are under 12. I didnt get my first phone until I was 13, and my parents didnt even give it to me (My memaw gave it to me). My first phone was a basic phone, but I upgraded to another phone. At least when they turn 12 years age, but I think 13 would be better for them to have a phone.

[Thunderstorm]

Hell, you shouldn't have an iPhone if you aren't in High School. That's when you may start needing it. Why do 12 yr olds/13 yr olds need it. When you hit Freshman year, why not, but really it's a smartphone and is only completely helpful to adults. Any other cellphone (not a smartphone) is fine for kids.

[Cognizant]

Living in California, especially the silicon valley, it's not uncommon to see a little 13 year old with an iPhone or iPad at school, on the bus or train. I'm fine with it I guess, i've grown up with technology.

[Manjusri]

Get 'em a jitter bug. That way they can call home, mommy, daddy, and 911. I don't think someone who's in elementary school should be introduced to social networks, texting, etc. It's just really unnecessary.

[Abyssal Echo]

there should be no need for child under 12 to have a phone

I agree :D

[Jess]

okay, it sorta depends.

sometimes an elementary school child might need it to call their parents for some reason, maybe they're at a birthday party or something. So they're given a phone temporarily. temporarily, not permanent. there's no need for someone under 12 to have one permanently. my little brother (11, in middle school) occasionally will need to borrow a phone when he's out swimming at the YMCA, but he doesn't keep it. Personally I don't think he needs one, although he disagrees. He has an iPod, not to mention he also uses the iPad a lot (technically it doesn't belong to him)

it's okay for a middle schooler to have one, especially if he or she has some after school activities and will need to be picked up.

but really, it's up to the parents. some parents just give their children cell phones at a really early age. it's their choice if they want to do that....

[Dirtbiker199]

Well, considering the fact that I had a cell phone since the 4th grade, but was only allowed to use it to talk to people a little, and mostly for emergencies until the 7th grade when I was 13, I say that kids should have at least a flip phone or a nokia that isn't advanced at all like I have right now. I say this because what do they need to use any of this stuff for? I mean they are children, go outside and play like a lot of us did for years. We didn't have all this advanced stuff. I think children should have phones in case of emergency. That what I say! lol

[Greg1994]

Personally, I got my first phone when I was 12. It obviously wasn't a smartphone, but I had unl texting, so I enjoyed it. I think 11-12 (middle school) is probably a decent age for a phone.

[Mikedamaniak]

I don't think a tracfone is a good idea. Sure, the kid would be a lot safer under the gaze of the satellite but does he want to be totally safe, or at least thinks it's worth sacraficing some safety for not being constantly tracked with some fancy device and being pampered with being so important and having every little problem turned into an emergency. If given a choice, it would be anything but a trac fone and if i was forced into having one i would never turn on the tracking device whatever my parents said and probably disable it, if there is a way

[jemmytheking]

it's both god and bad. i think they're too young but if they use it for good reasons and the phone comes into handy some day then yes its a good idea.

[dontfiguremeout]

Heck no!!! Little kids should not be having phones when they are like 12 and younger (unless it's a flip phone that only calls family members.) If a parents introduces that type of technology to a kid at a young age, because their brains are still growing they will be extremely addicted to them when they are older. Plus it ruins kids imagination now, and the wanting to play outside, or see how many friends they can hang out in one day, or in one week!