Kids with Cell Phones, How Young is Too Young? 514
An anonymous reader writes "CNet is reporting that the average age of a child receiving their first cell phone is continuing to drop. A report carried out last year showed that the average age of a child's first cell phone was just eight years old and is expected to drop closer to 5 years of age this year. The author raises the obligatory medical questions that have been argued about in adults for years. Just how young is too young for a cell phone?
Re:preprogrammed phones for kids? (Score:3, Informative)
Clicky, too [google.com]
The problem isn't (necessarily) age... (Score:3, Informative)
...the problem is maturity and responsibility.
I believe that, with current regulations in the United States, the recommended youngest age for owning a cell phone should be 18 (give or take a few years). Here's my reasoning behind this approximate age limit:
If you're a parent with a whiny kid who demands a cell phone, do your research. There are models out there that can be "locked in" to only allow a few phone numbers to be called. Wireless providers like Verizon [verizon.com] can change your plan so it blocks the sending and receiving of text messages (those cost up to ten cents each!). Remember: you're basically giving your kid access to your line of credit — control your kids' spending like you control your own spending!
Re:preprogrammed phones for kids? (Score:4, Informative)
During a large scale event (30,000+ people), my younger brother was seperated from my mother. She usually does a supreme job of keeping track of him, but - from what I understand - my dad asked her a quick question and took her attention away just long enough. He was nine at the time. We scoured that event for about thirty panicking minutes, until a New York State Trooper called in and said that they found him. He was no more than five feet from where he had originally been - had gone over to check out one of our local ambulance crews and their on-site setup.
If he had had a phone, it would have taken no more than 90 seconds to find him, I'd bet. He had no idea that we'd misplaced him, or that he was being searched for, until after we found him, of course. I know that they pounded the 'Tell us where you're going'/'Don't wander off in crowds'/'Don't ever leave my side' lessons into him - I got the very same. Just never occured to him.
Re:preprogrammed phones for kids? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:preprogrammed phones for kids? (Score:5, Informative)
Same thing happened when we were kids. But we used the phone AT the friends house. That was pretty much summer running rules. I'd leave early in the morning, and run around with all my friends in the neighborhood...we'd all be at one of our houses or the neighborhood pool. When really young, my folks had me call from wherever I was to let them know where I was at, etc. Most people had phones at their homes...also, it pretty much verified WHERE I was too.
No cell phones needed...
I'm more and more with others on this thread. When the kid is able to work, and PAY for their own minutes used....cool, they can get a cell phone.