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
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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?
>> See Replies

More polls by Fef

us 2012/07/05 16:00:20

Younger than 13 years old

+1
it is sad that phone have come more important than school work.

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weenyboy 2012/07/05 15:57:15

Younger than 18 years old

+1
Actually, my vote is for the age of 75 and a non-driver! I see these fools daily, many barely capable of driving on the best of days, smoking, drinking coffee (perhaps coffee), and eating while ALSO talking on a cell phone and ATTEMPTING to drive! With the exception of a DOCTOR ON CALL or a surgeon specialist, sorry, but YOU'RE not important enough to drive and talk while endangering my life. As to YOUR life, please continue to talk on your damn phones but only on secluded roads!

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angie45 2012/07/05 15:55:55

Younger than 18 years old

+1
i think 16 is a good age for a cell phone..they old e-nuff to use and respect the use of one.
these days and times we live in, always good to be able to stay in touch with them.

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Grant Straka 2012/07/05 15:55:12

Younger than 13 years old

+1
13s the age you start to go out with friends to movies and subways.

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Alan 2012/07/05 15:54:40

Younger than 13 years old

+2
I had my first phone at 11 so I could speak to my father. He lives away from my hometown and I usually had to wait untill every sunday night to speak to him. My first phone was a basic nokia costing around 30 pounds, I wasn't aloud to text only call my mum and dad and other family members in emergencys. I am 16 now and have had only 3 phones since. My first smartphone was a htc magic, which I got GIVEN to me by my uncle when I was 15. Because I'm old enough now and saved up my pocket money I bought a blackberry curve 9320. I believe that kids with certain sircumstances say around 10+ should have a mobile I look at younger kids with iphones and just pitty them they don't really need one at that age becuase it will get broke or lost, then they're parents will be expected to pay for another one which is outragous...!!!

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moviebuff 2012/07/05 15:53:52

Younger than 10 years old

+1
I got my first cell phone when I turned 18. Anything younger then that I'm opposed to. Parents do give it to them in case of an emergency and I understand that. But.......no.

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Deb 2012/07/05 15:44:34

Younger than 13 years old

+4
Just MY opinion, but I think a teen should be 16, WITH a part-time job so they can pay for it as well.

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Sheila 2012/07/05 15:37:14

Younger than 10 years old

+4
In most cases age is a number. I have a younger child who has NEVER lost or misused hers, but the older can never find it and I had to cut it off over internet use.

You know YOUR CHILD and that is how we are still allowed to do things so far.....

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Ada Whi... to Sheila 2012/07/05 16:24:18

+1
Exactly, I was thinking it just varies. I know a 5 year old that is responsible enough to handle a phone, I also know a 12 that I wouldnt even let them touch my phone (for fear of breaking it)

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samantha363610 2012/07/05 15:32:48

Younger than 13 years old

+2
I got my cell fone wen i turned 13. I wasnt supposed to get it wen i got a job but my parents sed since ive gotten older im going to be going places and they need a way to get in touch with me. I dont think children under 13 of age shuldnt have one cuz they wuldnt kno wat not to use a cell fone for

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Deb to samanth... 2012/07/05 15:50:34

How long have you had your cellphone?

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Sage to samanth... 2012/07/05 15:54:58

As good as your point may be, your spelling is terrible. I'm sorry.

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Proud to samanth... 2012/07/05 16:37:40
mustangluver 2012/07/05 15:26:38

Younger than 18 years old

+3
My son got his cell when he got a job after he graduated. We weren't paying for him to play with his friends.

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jenkiez 2012/07/05 15:25:01

Younger than 13 years old

+2
When she is old enough to go somewhere on her own, she can have a cell phone.

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Bethany Jansen 2012/07/05 15:20:35

Younger than 10 years old

+1
But it also depends on the child. My sister is about to turn 9 in a few days and I wouldn't trust her with a cell phone, she's too young still. but her cousin is a couple months younger that her and is more mature. She has an ipod with texting and she's mature enough for it. So it just depends on the child and their maturity level.

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gmiing 2012/07/05 15:19:07

Younger than 18 years old

+1
My grandson is 8 and has one - constantly having to check to see which house he left it at - just doesn't really need one.

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fitz 2012/07/05 15:14:25

Younger than 18 years old

+1
If the child can't pay for the phone charge by doing chores or mowing lawns, the child should be phoneless unless a health issue is involved. I've seen few major contributions to society with all the sophisticated electronics but I've seen a large number of disadvantages including invasion of privacy. We're already in a downward spiral of life in the US and many of our children are far from capable of handling the future. They must learn to handle life on their own without mommy calling every 1/2 hour to find out how their little darling is doing.

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Groundskeeper Willy 2012/07/05 15:07:57

Younger than 13 years old

+1
Once a child reaches middle school they should have a "SIMPLE" phone, parents should only allow phone home, and parent, BLOCK TEXTING TO /FROM FRIENDS.. No smart phone until the kid is no longer a dependent.

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alex 2012/07/05 15:07:12

Younger than 13 years old

I got mine when I was 12

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babyg36 2012/07/05 15:06:52

Younger than 10 years old

My 9 year old cousin has one because her parents are divorced and its hard to keep track so instead of calling everyone in the family to talk to her she has one so that you can call her. She also has diabetes and stays at friends a lot.

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raine 2012/07/05 15:05:39

Younger than 18 years old

No kid should have a cell, they get addicted too fast plus they are so stupid they are unable to fathom the consequences of actions they do while in the coma of a cell phone. But if you are asking should they be kept in a cell.. OH YA fur sur

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nate 2012/07/05 15:00:19

Younger than 13 years old

didn't get mine until I was 13

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Randal A. Dorscher 2012/07/05 14:57:38

Younger than 13 years old

Any younger needs to be just a phone that only calls one of the people of the parents choice +911

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22rexy22samo 2012/07/05 14:43:34

Younger than 13 years old

i got mine in 5th grade but that was becasue my parents were gone alot. now my briother who is in 3rd grade gets 1 because my parents wont b around and i wont. thats bull crap.

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koolkat 2012/07/05 14:33:41

Younger than 13 years old

I know a 9 year old with a iPhone!!:(

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alex 2012/07/05 14:33:38

Younger than 10 years old

at an age where kids start going out with their friends like to the mall and movies and stuff, they should have that phone incase something happens or if they need picked up sooner than expected, ya know? granted theyre not doing that at 10, more at 13 so i should have picked the other one lol but my point stands

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kaleb 2012/07/05 14:31:31

Younger than 10 years old

If you ask me a phone is useful at 13 or 14, earlier than that it really is just a toy. Most young children are irresponsible and break it and end up getting spoiled with a new one. I got a simple flipPhonE at 12, but I didn't get a smart phone until 14, but it does depend on maturity. But defiantly not before 12.

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acajudi 2012/07/05 14:27:06

Younger than 13 years old

It would be a basic phone for emergency calling! I feel we should micro chip babies.

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CoolRanch 2012/07/05 14:20:54

Younger than 13 years old

I think a mobile phone is not needed till they start having a life of there own. I like when they start doing after school activities or something.

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Brendakp 2012/07/05 14:13:44

Younger than 13 years old

+3
I'm 59 years old. I survived just fine without one when I was a child.

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Proud to Brendakp 2012/07/05 16:41:36
Brendakp to Proud 2012/07/06 13:26:25

IMO, that's what kids should be doing instead of playing with their tech toys, playing outdoors. I had so much fun as a kid!

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MlssCue =Go Blue= 2012/07/05 13:57:26

Younger than 10 years old

+1
I don't see the point of kids in grade school having cell phones but there were kids in my daughter's 3rd grade class with them.

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tobe 2012/07/05 13:41:17 (edited)

Younger than 18 years old

unless the child has a job. a kid with an after school job id say 16 because they are showing a sense of maturity and bringing in their own money. they can say what they want about kids and how they need to keep in touch with their parents but when i was a kid all i knew that had cel phones were doctors and lawyers and we did just fine. i had cheapo pager when i was 17 called a tutti frutti which cost 40 bucks with no monthly bill so mom could keep tabs on me. kids with smart phones are sitting around all hours of the day texting their friends, taking pictures of their junk with the camera phone to send to their girlfriend or boyfriend and playing cel phone video games? it winds up being an expensive monthly payment toy. I got my own cel phone when i was in college and all you could do with it was call.

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SundayStoleYourCookieDough 2012/07/05 13:27:17

Younger than 10 years old

+1
It honestly depends on the child though. I got my first mobile at ten, but that's because being homeschoolec I was doing all sorts of extra-curriculem (sic) activites and stuff (socialising ftw) and my mom didn't want me to have no way of contacting her. And yes I could've had the teacher call her but having a phone was just easier. My brother got one at ten too.

Both our phones were very simplistic though. you could call, text, put like three songs on there for a ringtone...that was about it. I don't think kids should have an iPhone/Blackberry or anything like that til they're 13 or 14 (you really don't need one at ten) but that in itself depends on the kid...not to mention how rich the parents are o3o

tl;dr yes get your kid a phone at ten but maybe wait a little longer for the whole smartphone thing

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Black_Rose 2012/07/05 13:10:02

Younger than 13 years old

+2
I most definitely think children under the age of 16 do not need a cell phone. Most kids that do get a phone at a young age, break it, lose it, or go well over their given minutes. I see so many young kids with cell phones; it's just crazy! I didn't get a phone until I turned 16years old, and that's because they took the payphones out of my high school!

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Kidasha 2012/07/05 12:20:20

Younger than 10 years old

That sounds about right. Although I didn't have a cell phone until I came to the states

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Rie~ 2012/07/05 11:47:37

Younger than 13 years old

i had my first one when i was like 10 but it depends on the way you learn to deal with stuff..i never used my phone too much

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BrianD3 2012/07/05 11:24:16

Younger than 13 years old

+1

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