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

1,047 votes
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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	112 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?
>> See Replies

More polls by Fef

SilveryRow 2012/07/06 12:13:57

Younger than 13 years old

I'd actually say younger than fifteen.

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vampire666ls 2012/07/06 08:31:01

Younger than 13 years old

I got a cell phone at the age of 12, but it was purely because I was a very busy person. I actually wish I hadn't gotten one for another year or two, it would have been much simpler.

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Dave 007 to vampire... 2012/07/07 14:51:26

Busy person at 12? Please explain.

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luna 2012/07/06 08:06:51

Younger than 10 years old

I had one younger than this though or around the age of 10... I think I depends on if there's a need for it I only a want. I used mine to wake up my dad cuz he'd forget me at school n my mom was to afraid to let me walk home by myself cuz we had a lot of pedos on my block... Other than that I never really used my phone... Now I use it but I didn't start texting till way later I literally just called my parents...

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atti.tude 2012/07/06 06:04:35

Younger than 13 years old

I think its exceptable for younger than 13 kids to have like an ipod to play games and listen to music on, but where are these kids going that isn't going to either a) have adult supervision, or b) have a phone accessable to them that they can use to call their parents or friends....
Teenagers and up go to the mall and what not so as a safety thing not an issue, but have monitering until 16.
I got a pre-paid cell phone at 17 when I could afford to pay the bill, just saying....

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littlebuffalo55TBA 2012/07/06 06:02:15

Younger than 13 years old

Seems practical to me and as said here there seem to be many viable options for each child & situation.

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DarekSoufan 2012/07/06 05:58:18

Younger than 13 years old

had one when i was 10

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Jenna to DarekSo... 2012/07/07 03:03:02

+1
that's way too young!!

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Skye to Jenna 2012/11/30 02:14:12

Not really.

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Flyingbug 2012/07/06 05:51:19 (edited)

Younger than 13 years old

However, as every child is different, what you allow that phone to do can be modified. But at least the age of 13.

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Jenni 2012/07/06 03:50:47

Younger than 10 years old

I wish there was an "other" category. Where I live, the majority of kids have strange families with issues (divorce, abuse, etc.) and they typically get cell phones at age 8 or 9, to help stay in communication with family members. However, I was deprived and didn't get a cell phone until the age of 12. Needless to say, I was teased by my peers, but the only real issues not having a cell phone caused was missing out of stuff and having to wait half an hour for my mom to pick me up.

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KingTez 2012/07/06 03:30:14

Younger than 13 years old

Better be getting a job soon to pay that phone bill kid.....

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Skye to KingTez 2012/11/30 02:12:53

+1
And that car...
And college...

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KingTez to Skye 2012/12/08 11:17:33

Damn right!

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Skye to KingTez 2012/12/26 07:28:13

.......... I was being sarcastic.....

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KingTez to Skye 2012/12/27 16:14:16

I knew that.

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Bunk11 2012/07/06 03:23:00

Younger than 13 years old

My basic rule was you get a cell phone when you get your drivers' license, though I got one a few months before that for my younger son because he needed to be able to reach us in case there were issues with his getting to hockey practice. And while my daughter doesn't have her license, she's at that age, so I got her a cell phone in case she needs to reach us when at activities or with friends.

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Lyndsay 2012/07/06 03:00:36

Younger than 10 years old

+2
My friend got hers when she was 7...:/

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Dave 007 to Lyndsay 2012/07/07 14:53:20

Way too young, I blame this on the parents.

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Skye to Dave 007 2012/11/30 02:11:19

That's because the parents ARE the ones to blame. Duh.

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ErayTheTurk 2012/07/06 02:41:16

Younger than 18 years old

+2
It anger me sooo much to see little kids that there are 5years old walking around with iphones. I don't really come from a rich family so i usually get crappy little phones. The only phones my parents bought me were a little $30 phone with no bluetooth and a $59. I have a touchsceen now but it was won in a comp. The only phone kids should have under 13 are chap phones for emergency purposes only. I hate hearing about families that have a bunch of iphones and ipads. Its not needed.

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ErayThe... to ErayThe... 2012/07/06 02:42:18

+1
Under 13 not under 18

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edlie 2012/07/06 02:39:22

Younger than 10 years old

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writing_fanatic 2012/07/06 02:25:51

Younger than 13 years old

It always depends on the situation. I understand a kid at like 12/13 with a pay as you go phone if they walk home from school, or they're alone at home until the parents get home. Then I understand. But what five year old needs an iPhone?

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Skye to writing... 2012/07/06 02:43:10

Also 12/13 is when most kids go and hang out with friends without adult supervision,

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writing... to Skye 2012/07/15 00:04:58

Right, that too. I mean, I wasn't allowed to have one until I was in high school, but that's when I became more independent, was really given more freedom. But any younger they aren't really necessary, unless they have reasons, like walking home. But that when you hand over the pay as you go phones, not "oh, your eight? Here's an iPhone!"

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Skye to writing... 2012/11/30 02:09:49

Phones are an everyday thing, and I'm surprised some parents don't let there kids get one until they can pay for it on their own. Same goes for cars and college.

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ajracestables1 2012/07/06 01:27:22

Younger than 10 years old

+2
If you are giving your kid a cell phone for security reasons then as long as they know how to use the phone I don't think any age is to young. If you are giving them a cell for their indulgance then that is entirely up to the parents.

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Jenni to ajraces... 2012/07/06 03:54:06

+2
I completely agree. I'm 14 and my "phone" is a cheap little phone that we literally got for free. I'm always asked "Is that a toy phone?" because it looks fake. And in my family there are only two phones - that phone and one other phone. But I think for security reasons no age is too young.

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evelyn wormall 2012/07/06 01:22:54 (edited)

Younger than 13 years old

+2
I think u should get a mobile when ur at least 10 or over im 11 and i got a free iphone from my big bro and my couins all have iphone4s and ipads and the youngest is 8! WOW

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writing... to evelyn ... 2012/07/06 02:28:13

When I was 8, I had an imagination. Besides, your phone was free. The money wasn't being wasted for you to get distracted on instead of your school work. It was a gift, so to speak.

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frannie.tp 2012/07/06 01:18:03

Younger than 10 years old

dammit i meant younger than thirteen...

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Cubatista92 2012/07/06 01:07:53

Younger than 13 years old

I actually never had a phone until after I made my own money and got one for myself. It is simply not needed.
At that age you are not that important that need to be in constant contact with the world.

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Danaman117 2012/07/06 00:16:50

Younger than 13 years old

keep the thin skulls away from Radiation

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NinjaRebecca 2012/07/05 23:54:13

Younger than 13 years old

I'm 14 and I don't have a cell phone. Kids these days...they think they need one but honestly, they don't. I get along just fine without one. Sure, it'd make life a little easier, but I don't ned one

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Skye to NinjaRe... 2012/07/06 02:45:38

No one NEEDS one. We went fine for years and years without them. It's a matter of wanting one. You honestly just sound a bit jealous to not have one. Not saying you are but that's what you are coming off as.

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Jenni to Skye 2012/07/06 03:55:08

I don't think they sounded jealous. You're jumping to conclusions. In fact they sounded completely anti-jealous.

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Skye to Jenni 2012/07/06 03:58:34

They say they don't have a phone, then talks about the ones with one.

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Jenni to Skye 2012/07/13 22:58:05

They said that although it would make life easier they don't need it.

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NinjaRe... to Skye 2012/11/28 03:20:10

I'm not jealous. Didn't I just state that I don't need one and that I get along just fine without one? And yes, people do need cell phones. Some people have jobs.

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