What age do you think is too young for cell phones

jenna8984

My friend just posted on FB how her 7 year old daughter is a obsessed with texting. I don't have any kids so I might have a different perspective but I think that's ridiculous. I'm all for the kid having an emergency phone that can call mom, dad, grandma but to me there is no reason for texting at that age.

It's hard to say since I don't have kids and don't know what technology is going to be like in 10+ years but I'd like to think I won't allow my kid a cell phone until 12 years old.  I remember my life that got sucked into an oblivion of all nighters when AOL came out and I'd like to deter that as long as possible hahah. Maybe I'm just being an over protective mom already?!

JCbride2015

I think 7 is too young.  I got a cell phone at 15.  I think my little cousins got them around 13, which seems right to me.  I think the guideline would be, at what age would your kid need to call you for a ride home?  At what age would your kid walk home from school alone?  I would probably get them cell phones once I feel they are old enough to contact me directly instead of just being with an adult all the time.

ETA: the only reason I got one at that age was because I had a part-time job and could pay the bill myself.  My parents saw the phone as a luxury/ for contacting my friends, so even if my mom could afford it I don't think she would have ever paid for me to have one.  Things have changed in the 11 years since then, there are fewer pay phones available, people assume teens have cell phones and they are more needed for communication.

JennyColada

I'm totally biased. I got my first cell phone at 18.

I'm not sure how it is now, but when I was in school, all of my classrooms had phones in the rooms. If the kid isn't at school then they should be at (a) home. I don't see where my child would be that they are out of reach of a provided phone and thus need to provide their own. Either they're at school, my house, or at someone else's house (in which case, they should have access to a phone).

I would say that MAYBE they could use a cell phone if they go to the mall or the movies without me, but I wouldn't think that they should be able to do that until they're like 15.

Or maybe I'm just going to be a horribly overprotective mom too.

lyndausvi

My niece and nephews got their iphones at age 10 or 11 (depending on my siblings).    A few of them are 14 already and often forget about their phone.  I don't even bother calling them on their phones because they never have it on them.     A couple of them are obsessed by their phones it's become almost an extra appendage.  The rest seem to have a normal healthy relationship with their phones.

I think it really depends on the kid, but i do think 7 is a little too young IMO.

AprilH81

I have no kids so this is hypothetical based on what I think is reasonable.  This is no way set in stone...

When they get to late grade school (4th-5th grade or so) they can have a phone that calls parents, grandparents and 911. 

When they get to late middle school (7th-8th grade or so) they can have a phone that texts, but they will have to do chores to help "pay" for it (along with keeping good grades, staying out of trouble, etc.).

Generally speaking we will have every security feature and tracking device known to mankind on whatever phone our kid(s) has and there will be rules about when the phone can be used, including a rule that the phone stays with us between bedtime and leaving for school.

I can't imagine who a 7 year old would be texting, let alone to be "obsessed".  

lyndausvi

Jennycolada said:

I'm totally biased. I got my first cell phone at 18.

I'm not sure how it is now, but when I was in school, all of my classrooms had phones in the rooms. If the kid isn't at school then they should be at (a) home. I don't see where my child would be that they are out of reach of a provided phone and thus need to provide their own. Either they're at school, my house, or at someone else's house (in which case, they should have access to a phone).

I would say that MAYBE they could use a cell phone if they go to the mall or the movies without me, but I wouldn't think that they should be able to do that until they're like 15.

Or maybe I'm just going to be a horribly overprotective mom too.

I got my first bag cell phone when I was in my mid-20's.  Yep, I'm that old.

SmileDamnit

7?! That seems so young! I didn't even get my first party line until I was 13 (yes, I'm 'old' and remember party lines and beepers and such . I think @lyndausvi is right when she says it depends on the kid & circumstance, but my gut says they should probably make it through elementary school first, no?

FiancB

Jennycolada said:

I'm totally biased. I got my first cell phone at 18.

I'm not sure how it is now, but when I was in school, all of my classrooms had phones in the rooms. If the kid isn't at school then they should be at (a) home. I don't see where my child would be that they are out of reach of a provided phone and thus need to provide their own. Either they're at school, my house, or at someone else's house (in which case, they should have access to a phone).

I would say that MAYBE they could use a cell phone if they go to the mall or the movies without me, but I wouldn't think that they should be able to do that until they're like 15.

Or maybe I'm just going to be a horribly overprotective mom too.

this. I didn't get a phone til I went to college in 05 and I survived. 

I really think that kids are forming unhealthy dependencies on tech, and a lot of it is from getting these cell phones that are basically mini computers so young. Sure kids texted sometimes when I was in high school, but now it's a huge battle to get them to stop. People checked their phones the first time around when I went to college, and this go around just last semester I had a professor freak the fuck out because some of her students were taking selfies of themselves. In class. I guess it couldn't wait? 

If the kid is obsessed with texting, there's a really easy solution to that- take the texting off the phone. Jesus. 

Realistically I would probably get my kid a phone at 10 at the earliest but it would be really bare bones and for emergencies only.

pinkshorts27

I got my first phone at 13, because that is when I started going to practice right after school. If it got canceled there weren't many convenient phones to use. It didn't have texting and I couldn't use minutes on anything other than parents or friends calling their parents.  My junior year of high school I had texting for about 3 months. I went over my 100 limit that last month and lost texting until I graduated. I got my first smart phone when I was a senior in college. 

jenna8984

Good so I'm not crazy! I got my first cell at 16 because I had gotten a job and I had a piece of crap car so my parents said if you're driving home from the restaurant at midnight at you break down you will at least have a phone. My small town hardly had ANY service, it was always out of service and the phone didn't even have a clock feature on it nevermind texting!!

Maybe it's for those brats I see wandering the mall alone at 9 years old?! I'm always like where the F is the parent?!

climbingsingle

IMO, 7 is way too young. 

jdluvr06

My sister got my older nephew who is nine a cell phone. It has unlimited minutes to call my sister's cell, my BIL's cell, my cell, and his grandparent's cell. It also has a set amount of minutes and text messages that he can use each month to call or text his friends but once he uses that up the phone kind of half shuts off, it won't let him call anyone but the people listed above. It's different now than when we were growing up. No one in my family has a landline and my nephew is getting to that age where he wants to talk to his friends on the phone. My sister and BIL were tired of him using their phones all the time.

Peaseblossom55

I think 7 is too young.  I got my first cell phone at 17 when I began driving it stayed in the car mostly and was only for an emergencies.  My sophomore year in college I was so busy I began to use the phone on a regular basis as my only contact phone number. 

I don't see the need for a kid to have a phone until they are 11 or 12, although the older the better.  My niece who is almost 7 has an ipod and I guess it has a feature on it for texting and being able to facetime so occaisionally I get messages from her... it is a bit strange.  I don't know too much about it or how often she uses those features

PrettyGirlLost

jenna8984 said:

My friend just posted on FB how her 7 year old daughter is a obsessed with texting. I don't have any kids so I might have a different perspective but I think that's ridiculous. I'm all for the kid having an emergency phone that can call mom, dad, grandma but to me there is no reason for texting at that age.

It's hard to say since I don't have kids and don't know what technology is going to be like in 10+ years but I'd like to think I won't allow my kid a cell phone until 12 years old.  I remember my life that got sucked into an oblivion of all nighters when AOL came out and I'd like to deter that as long as possible hahah. Maybe I'm just being an over protective mom already?!

I'm with you on that one.

pinkcow13

I think 7 is way too young. Who in the world is a 7 year old texting?? 

FI's cousin's husband got his 10 year old daughter the new Samsung galaxy, and I think that is too young, also. I got my first cell phone at 16, and that was only because my friend gave it to me (as my parents didnt allow me to have a cel phone). It was prepaid, so I had a phone without my parents knowing lol. I had a part time job to pay for the cards. 

Maggie0829

I got my first cell phone at 18 as a high school graduation present.  Before that my parents had cell phones (the huge grey ones) and would give me one to take with me when I went out without them (movies, football games, dinner with friends, etc) so that if anything were to happen I could call them.  

I agree with FiancB that kids, especially really young kids, are too overly dependent or obsessed on electronic devices.  My niece who will be turning 4 this March was able to figure out and use her parents iPad at like 2.  She is now obsessed with it.  How is that good in anyway?

I think if I had a kid they would get a cell phone (bare bones cell phone) at whatever age they start going out with friends (say to the mall or movies) without a parent being present at all time.  That way they can call me when they need me to come get them or if something were to happen.

When the time comes that they want a fancier phone to text and get on the internet and what not, then they would need to pay for it thus be old enough to get a job.

bmydesigner

I can definitely see it being a value for emergencies or to call if they need picked up from a practice or something, but other than that I really don't see the point of kids having cell phones. Especially really extravagant ones.

Now of course, I'm not a parent either, so it's hard for me to say as well. But I do see my younger cousins who are also around the age of 7 with the newest iPhone and I just don't see the point.

HaileyDancingbear

I didn't even care wether or not I had a phone until I was 17, but then again I'm weird.

I think 7 sounds way too young.  

I think around the age of 12-13 is acceptable, but it also depends on the child's maturity and necessity of the phone- My little brother is in Robotics and uses his phone to keep my parents in the loop about meetings, when he needs to be picked up, etc. so it's useful, and he's mature enough to keep the phone safe and not go over the minutes/texts on his plan.  He also isn't an idiot on the internet and uses it to google stuff/look at cars, but doesn't post on internet forums.

I can't help but wonder where the hell the parent is when I see some 12 year old making a total ass of his/herself on the internet.  On one hand, it's not nice for the other posters to pick on them, but on the other, you can't just go around calling people cunts, bitches, etc and expect your age to excuse you from being torn a new asshole for that behavior, especially given the huge amount of people who just do not give a fuck on the internet.  It would just be best if the parents didn't let them post in the first place, saves the kid some scolding and saves every other user a massive headache.  In those cases, the kid is absolutely not mature enough for a phone with data, or any internet capable device that the parents can't monitor.  

Overall though, every kid is different.  Some kids are super mature and can totally handle having a phone, and some just never grow up.

aspoonfulofsugar

7 year olds can't even read and write THAT well yet and what the heck do they even have to talk about?  

I didn't get mine until my 17th birthday and I was responsible for the bill.  I agree with PPs that a minimal phone is okay when they are going out on their own- but otherwise, I feel it's unnecessary.

sarahufl

My siblings and I got one to share at 15/16 and it was ONLY to call my parents when we got anywhere when my brother first started driving. It never even left the car. I didn't get my own till I went to college. Granted, cell phones did not exist when I was 7 and they were still very, very expensive even through high school.

I wonder who a 7 year old is talking to? And can they be trusted with expensive phones? IMO, kids dont need that stuff.

ktjanesmom

How many words can a 7 year old spell?   Anyway...my son in-law is a software engineer and my two grandsons, ages 3.5 and 2.5 play games on the family I-pad.   They know how to operate it.  Ben tells me you cant fight it, its the way of the future.  But they are certainly monitored and strict time limits are set.  My daughter and her husband also play board games, read books and play outside alot with the boys.  Its a matter of moderation as with most things in life.

When I read that a 7 year old is obsessed with texting, sounds like a parenting issue! 

jdluvr06

bmydesigner said:

I can definitely see it being a value for emergencies or to call if they need picked up from a practice or something, but other than that I really don't see the point of kids having cell phones. Especially really extravagant ones.

Now of course, I'm not a parent either, so it's hard for me to say as well. But I do see my younger cousins who are also around the age of 7 with the newest iPhone and I just don't see the point.

I don't see the point of kids having the newest iPhone or galaxy either. The phone my nephew has is my sister's old one. It is still a smart phone but she downloaded a few games for him and set it up so that you need a code, that he doesn't have, to access the internet. I know it seems odd for kids to have any cell phone at that age but I've stopped coming at it from a when I was that age perspective. When I was that age I could call my friends from our home phone (and believe me I did lol) and I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16 and it was a prepaid. However, now I literally know no one with a landline. Even my great grandmother got rid of hers and just has a cell phone. I can see where, as a parent it would get old really quick to share your cell with your kid. I don't think a kid that young needs to be constantly texting or have unlimited minutes to call anyone they want but I can so understand giving them something with limited minutes to chat on.

jenna8984

One of my old roommates was dating a single dad with an 8 year old daughter so every time he came over the daughter came. She was constantly showing me games/stuff on her phone but the WORST was that her ring tone was "apple bottom jeans" by Nelly! I was like she should not know that song!

bmydesigner

jdluvr06 said:

bmydesigner said:

I can definitely see it being a value for emergencies or to call if they need picked up from a practice or something, but other than that I really don't see the point of kids having cell phones. Especially really extravagant ones.

Now of course, I'm not a parent either, so it's hard for me to say as well. But I do see my younger cousins who are also around the age of 7 with the newest iPhone and I just don't see the point.

I don't see the point of kids having the newest iPhone or galaxy either. The phone my nephew has is my sister's old one. It is still a smart phone but she downloaded a few games for him and set it up so that you need a code, that he doesn't have, to access the internet. I know it seems odd for kids to have any cell phone at that age but I've stopped coming at it from a when I was that age perspective. When I was that age I could call my friends from our home phone (and believe me I did lol) and I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16 and it was a prepaid. However, now I literally know no one with a landline. Even my great grandmother got rid of hers and just has a cell phone. I can see where, as a parent it would get old really quick to share your cell with your kid. I don't think a kid that young needs to be constantly texting or have unlimited minutes to call anyone they want but I can so understand giving them something with limited minutes to chat on.

Right, I see your point. I also don't know anyone with a land line anymore. I can see giving them a phone, but definitely not of the highest quality and it could have certain limitations / minutes. It does seem odd to me for a child that young to have any phone but I suppose this is a new generation and times are changing. As long as their is appropriate parental guidance, it could go alright.

Haha, I called my friends on our land line at that age too. I remember how annoyed my parents would get whenever I was a little bit older and would spend hours talking on the phone to my friends.

jenna8984

@bmydesigner The worst was that I lived on the MA/ CT border so I would call a crush from school and then 3 weeks later I'd get bitched at for making a "long distance" call to CT. hahahaha oooooh land lines!!

KeptInStitches

Hypothetical. Not a parent.

Emergencies-only phone in late elementary (4th-5th grade), pretty darn basic cell phone in late jr high - early high school (9th-10th grade). Grades kept up and chores done to keep it. No data plan (or whatever ends up replacing the data plan in the future) before 18.

afox007

FI's son had a phone when I met him (he was 8) he never had it on him so it was kind of pointless. I did upgrade him to an iPhone the day after his mom went MIA with him I figured 1. he would be more inclined to keep an iPhone with him and 2. I have used the find my iPhone app SEVERAL times to track him down and pick him up when she has taken off with him and forbidden him from telling us where he is.

erinlin25

this drives H & I crazy!  We are always saying how our kids will probably hate us because we will not give let them have these things until they are older.  I am from the "pager era" and it was a big deal when I got one at 15, lol. 143 637 anyone

I got a phone at 16 when I got my license but it stayed in my glove box, I did not even know the phone number (only my parents did) and it was one of the super cool big cell phones like on saved by the bell, lol--maybe a little smaller.  and was for emergency only.  I do not think I ever even made a call on it.  I got my real first cell phone when I was 18 and moved out for college, in which I still paid for myself.

I get that technology is growing and I can only imagine what it will be like when we have kids, but no they will not have a cell phone until they have a real reason to need one, in which they would have to pay for it or "work for it."  It is one thing to use mom and dads, or the use the family computer (my 4 year old nephew is always teaching my mom how to use the cell phone and kindle, lol) but usage for sure should be controlled.  Who is a 7 year old texting!!?  No thank you. 

laceybird

I'm with a lot of PPs on this one.

I got my first cell phone (one of those Nokia bar phones) when I was around 12 or 13. The only reason for this is that I begun doing extra-curricular activities at school which required me to have practice after school, and the phone was so that I could call someone to pick me up when practice/games/etc. were over.

Prior to that, my mother would give me her cellphone if I was going somewhere without her and was for limited purposes only, such as getting someone to pick me up, an emergency, or what-have-you.

I totally agree with @Maggie0829 . Children are becoming more and more obsessed with electronics and starting at earlier ages. I have a friend whose niece is glued to cellphones and she can't even talk yet. She sees someone with a phone and she wants it. And unfortunately, her grandmother gives in because she "can't say no to her", even though her parents are trying to keep her from playing with them. He has cousins under the age of 10 who, whenever he would come over to visit, the first thing they would ask is if they could see his phone.

It's ridiculous.

flyingfoxes

I think 12 is probably good - 7 is way too young.  My FI's kids each have the iPhone 4s (they are almost 14 and almost 18).  I didn't get my first one until I was 19 and drove up to the bank that I opened for and saw the guard running out with his gun after two kids who thought they would rob the place so I had to drive all over to find a phone to call 911.  There's a tremendous amount of peer pressure for them to get smartphones.  Luckily his kids don't go over their allotments (so far). 

I'm an old geezer at heart and think it's ridiculous for teens to have smartphones, but I'm from the dark ages I think. 

WildMagelet

I didn't get my first cell phone until I was old enough to pay for it.

We just told our parents where we were going and when we would be back and we had a curfew.  If there was a problem we found a payphone or asked someone to use theirs.  NBD.

I don't know why a 7 year old needs texting.  FSD had a cp by late elementary school because she did a lot of extra curriculars and would ride her bike to and from practice several nights per week, but she could only make/receive calls to pre-programmed phone numbers and 911. No internet, no texting.