How Young Is Too Young for a Mobile Phone?

by Fef Posted 2012/07/03 13:00:00

Related Topics: Cell Phones, School, Privacy, Kids, Phones, Mobile phones, Sexting

1,048 votes
Read all 514 opinions
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	Younger than 10 years old	429 votes	41%
	Younger than 13 years old	506 votes	48%
	Younger than 18 years old	113 votes	11%

Parents give their kids mobile phones at very young ages. It seems that each year parents lower the minimum acceptable age for a kid to have one. Some parents give mobile phones with limited capabilities to match the child's needs ("Mom, come pick me up!") instead of his or her wants (sexting?).

Michael Arcand wrote an article on Mashable.com to help parents make this decision and find the right phone. Mashable.com reports:If you're thinking about getting your kid a cell phone, first consider school policy, usage, cost and your child's privacy.

thinking kid cell phone school policy usage cost childs privacy

+43

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Gregory Kramida 2012/07/03 13:08:49

Younger than 18 years old

+9
As much as I'd like to be liberal on this issue, for a kid younger than 13 a mobile phone, especially an expensive one, is little more than a fancy toy and a source of distraction. Moreover, it will tend to get lost, broken, borrowed and never returned.

If you have a phone at an early age, it doesn't in any way reflect your level of maturity. How about reading a good book instead?
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More polls by Fef

13_JunkyardDog 2012/07/03 05:17:37

Younger than 18 years old

+3
I think kids don't really need a mobile phone before high school

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Lyana 2012/07/03 04:14:06

Younger than 13 years old

+4
Let the kids have their damn childhood for crying out loud, before they turn into monstrous nightmares doped on their natural hormones! XD lol

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Julian 2012/07/03 04:13:34

Younger than 18 years old

+1
Younger than 120. Those things cause permanent brain damage, so unless you want to gradually get dumber and dumber, I suggest not using one.

"in research published in June 2003, a single two-hour exposure to a cell phone, just once during its lifetime, permanently damaged the blood-brain barrier and, on autopsy 50 days later, was found to have damaged or destroyed up to 2 percent of an animal’s brain cells, including cells in areas of the brain concerned with learning, memory and movement."

http://educate-yourself.org/c...

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louisa 2012/07/03 04:03:32

Younger than 13 years old

+2
I wouldn't get them something worth $300, maybe just 30! they'll probably lose it anyways

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brittneylalaa 2012/07/03 04:01:35

Younger than 10 years old

+2
WELL, it doesn't have to be an iphone or blackberry but I would like them to have a phone on them if they're on the go a lot. I'll probably get them a prepaid.

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Topsail Angel 2012/07/03 03:55:23

Younger than 13 years old

+3
They are many factors on at what age a child should have their own phone. I scanned through answers and opinions here and I didn't notice the one remark that bugs me the most on this subject. I could have missed it, so forgive me if this has already been said. I am grandma age and I have asked young mothers in the past few years why their child needs a phone. Their first answer? "So I always know where they are.". What??? Are they telling me they depend on truth and honesty to come with having their own cell phone? A child can get away with so much more lying with a cell phone. I was lucky to be a stay at home mom with my sons. I always knew where they were and they knew they couldn't lie to me. (I would still check things out...kids are kids and experimental at times). I know now there are programs to tell where your child is with their phone. Of course they can still get around that. Don't get your child a phone so you know where they always are.

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Lyana to Topsail... 2012/07/03 04:15:28

+1
Well said. ^^

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takeo kankawa 2012/07/03 03:51:04

Younger than 10 years old

+1
Oh my...!

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★earthbound_misfit★ 2012/07/03 02:48:27

Younger than 10 years old

These days, kids need cell phones to stay in contact with their parents and friends. They've become an integral part of life, like it or not. I think they should get their first simple phone (talk and text only) as soon as they are old enough to know how to use it and not lose or break it right away. Smart phones can wait till high school, though.

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Jenny to ★earthb... 2012/07/03 03:35:11

+1
No smart phones can wait till they are at least 16.

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★earthb... to Jenny 2012/07/03 03:53:41

+1
Sounds good to me. I didn't mean necessarily when they started high school, just sometime during high school would be okay. I'm in college and don't have one. It would be nice, but with a regular phone and a laptop, I do fine.

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Mark Mercer 2012/07/03 02:45:07

Younger than 18 years old

+1
Apparently, about 90 something, seeing so many people driving while on the phone..and texting

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Justin Teufel Hunden 2012/07/03 02:34:20

Younger than 13 years old

+1
I wouldn't allow permanent use. Only when away from me/family/home etc. Too many socialize over phone instead of in person. No bueno.

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Lolita666 2012/07/03 02:08:35

Younger than 13 years old

+1
13 and older is a good age because that's when kids start to become more independent so having a cellphone is good for emergencies and whatnot.

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Amelia 2012/07/03 02:02:30

Younger than 10 years old

+2
I know 6 year olds with phones....SPOILED

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Michelle 2012/07/03 01:57:35

Younger than 13 years old

+1
Unless your 11-12 year old has a multitude after-school activities, particularly outdoors ones where there aren't any convenient phones around or ones that don't run on regular schedules, which they need to call for a ride home, no. Even then, just give them your cell for the duration of the practice/meeting/whatever it is.

Under ten is just ridiculous, though.

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joy.rocco.94 2012/07/03 01:53:13

Younger than 10 years old

+2
Depends on the maturity of the child, I think they should be older cause with age comes responsibility. Parents should know their children, working parents need to be able to reach their kids. Circumstance is another issue.

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Martin Spilker 2012/07/03 01:49:40

Younger than 13 years old

+1
Actually it depends on the maturity of the child..some are more responsible than others

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ambates 2012/07/03 01:48:23

Younger than 13 years old

+3
I purchased one for my daughter when she went to high school and was so involved in after school activities. I think it really depends on the needs of the family.

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Super_Doodles 2012/07/03 01:42:32

Younger than 13 years old

+3
I think 15 is an appropriate age. Anything under 13 is excessive and pre-teens shouldn't have a need for a cell phone. I think there are other privileges and responsibilities have a more reasonable association with that age, such as chores, schoolwork, pet care, and they are too active and rambunctious to properly care for sensitive electronics. Privileges are rewards for adhering to discipline and responsibilities and should not be freely given

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Jimbo 2012/07/03 01:39:28

Younger than 10 years old

+2
my daughter is 9 and she has a cell phone. I think if a kid can make a call they should have a phone.

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Mel Martens 2012/07/03 01:25:12

Younger than 10 years old

+1
When I was 10, only the rich had phones and not one single child around me had one at all. There was no need for it. But these days I personally will jump on the techno bandwagon to keep up with things (and satisfy my paranoia) and will give my son a phone when he starts going to school by himself, which is around 9 or 10 years old. The phone will be restricted to only call us, his grandmother or 000 (Aussie emergency) and it will be a simple little brick with no gadgets or cameras. You can still get those as they are dirt cheap and run purely off simcards. He can buy his OWN smartphone, or whatever they have by then, when he's 16 and above.

I do not believe children have ANY need for a phone under that age at all. I mean really, what are they going to need it for...texting me to tell me what he's doing in class so he doesn't have to bother doing it in person after school? Please.

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Rob Williams 2012/07/03 01:20:55

Younger than 18 years old

+2
Whenever they can start paying the bill!

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Victor.Ojeda7 2012/07/03 01:19:39

Younger than 18 years old

i got my first phone at 18

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HearnoEvil 2012/07/03 01:14:30

Younger than 18 years old

I figure by the time my young n's can keep up with their ps3 remote and the wireless mouse to the laptop,then I'll consider. Until then, no age is appropriate.

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JohnT 2012/07/03 01:13:46

Younger than 13 years old

+1
To me this would not even be a conversation if it wasn't for the fact there is no longer pay phones or that many landlines. I would give my child over 14 a cell phone with limitations.

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Mel Mar... to JohnT 2012/07/03 01:26:53

+1
Yeh the no payphones thing is what prompted my response above. They don't have them at schools either now and the reception staff often get very snarky if a child wants to call home or something.

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JohnT to Mel Mar... 2012/07/03 01:41:00

+1
Pretty lousy situation the phone companies way of marketing and making sure we buy one. I still have a landline at home the reception is better and I don't have to charge it. I think kids today spend way too much time on the electronic toys

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Christo... to JohnT 2012/07/03 01:58:07

What would your limitations be?

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JohnT to Christo... 2012/07/03 03:27:55

Saw this some time back and it has some good ideas on limitations for teens
http://parentingteens.about.c...

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LYNN MEYER 2012/07/03 01:11:42

Younger than 10 years old

+2
If they can push buttons they are old enough!

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Mel Mar... to LYNN MEYER 2012/07/03 01:16:16

+3
My son's been able to push buttons since he was 8 months old...he's now 16 months and we've been making sure his toys aren't all button-pushers and more brain workers since button pushing is dead easy. And no, he's not allowed NEAR my phone.

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Christo... to LYNN MEYER 2012/07/03 01:58:55

+2
They can push buttons at age three. Still think that's old enough?

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Katherine to LYNN MEYER 2012/07/03 06:54:52

+1
Not an ability to communicate?

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Demiann 2012/07/03 01:01:41

Younger than 10 years old

I didn't get one until middle school but the first phone i got i could only call four people

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realityjunkie 2012/07/03 00:51:46

Younger than 10 years old

+2
I don't think children should have a mobile phone to call and text their buddies anytime they like but I think for “emergency only” purposes or when they need to contact a relative for a necessity, children should have a phone. I cannot pick an age. Eleven seems a little young but thirteen seems a good age.

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Doreen 2012/07/03 00:41:31

Younger than 13 years old

+1
12 and younger NO! 13 until sixteen on an extremely limited base such as phones locked from long distance and can only call certain people and I would expect my child to turn the phone into the office for the school day then get it when school was out. Sixteen will have to help pay for their line and any extra fees they may bring up but access will be free.

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Alli 2012/07/03 00:39:50

Younger than 13 years old

+2
If you're not in High School or older you're not going to be anywhere where you're in need of a phone

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faustbc 2012/07/03 00:37:08

Younger than 10 years old

+1
It depends on the individual. I find 12 year old kids very responsible, that go bakc home alone with the city bus. And if i was that kids parent I'd certainly give my child a CP, just in case he/she had to make a call.

Still I think younger than 10, or even 11, 12 yr olds, many have no need for a CP, mainly because usually they won't be left alone or out of supervision. Or I think they should not be left to, for instance, hang out around, or go back on their own from school.
I got mine when i was 14, because started going on my own back home from school, and that was a 1:30 hr trip through the city, changing buses, etc.. so my mother got me one.

So ultimately, i think if it's needed, get your kid a CP. But I find it awkward to see those 9 year olds with fancy CPs, who have no need at all for it.

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Katelin Rose Harris 2012/07/03 00:35:07

Younger than 10 years old

+1
you don't have to get anywhere by yourself or b anywhere alone until middle school

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