"No cell phone 'til you're 14!" - Bill Gates
What is the earliest age that a child should have a cell phone? Parents wonder what the right answer to this question is - at what age did YOU get your first cell phone?
Well, Bill Gates chimed in on the subject during a recent interview - he says that his children didn't get one until they were 14. Click HERE for an article on the subject.
Take a look at the "...list of questions parents should answer before giving their child their first phone" at the bottom of the article. As you look through the questions, answer these questions:
What IS the earliest age that you think a child should have a cell phone?
What are the risks?
What types of things would you want to talk to a child about, before they are given the responsibility of having a cell phone?
I think that whether you get a phone or not should not depend on age, but on maturity. For example, I got my first smartphone in 5th grade for my 11th birthday, but my brother did not have that maturity yet and had to wait until he was in the 7th grade. There are many risks when you give a phone to any child, but the risks are doubled when a child is immature and doesn't understand the consequences. When I got a cellphone my parents had all of my passwords, I had weekly phone checks, and I also had a long talk with my parents on what I could and couldn't do. I believe how my parents decided to give me my phone was the right way to do it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons we use smart phones is for easy access to social media and as I said in my comment below this that could be a problem if this 11 year boy or girl is being creeped on of course there ways to prevent that and you are right it also depends how children are given the devices but sometimes the personal security could be effected. Maybe kids just want a phone to play games a better option for that could be an IPad or tablet of some sort because of the wider screen but that is just my opnion.
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DeleteI agree with you because age isn't always the only thing you have to think about when your parents give you a phone. The have to make sure you are old enough to understand everything about having a phones.
DeleteI agree, it depends on the maturity of the child and how responsible they are. They can use the cell phone to call their parents, after sports or whenever they need to get ahold of them.
DeleteIt is the parents decision on when to give their chid a phone. Having a phone is something you earn. It is not your right. When you parent thinks you are ready for one then you will get one.
DeleteKids are starting to mature at a young age, who knows how quik hey will mature when we are old enough to have kids. maybe they will responsible enough to get it at a young age
DeleteIt's smart I believe everyone should listen to him for the suggested age that kids have phones because there are plenty of weirdos out there and around that age kid are able to think for themselves to some extent and at least make educated guesses on what is right and wrong but age doesn't mean they're always mature enough or responsibility to have one I guess ultimately it should be up to parents.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it should be up to the parents when they think their child is mature enough because age cannot determine maturity.
DeleteExactly, its not so much what the kids will do to get themselves into trouble its the weirdos out there that take advantage of young kids on phones. There needs to be a level of common sense and responsibility kids need to have to be able to safely use a phone.
DeleteI agree, parent should be in charge of seeing if their child is mature. Age does not determine maturity.
DeleteI think it's up to the parent on what they think is the right age to give their son/daughter a phone. I would suggest twelve because you have time to teach them what the dangers are, and a phone is a great for getting a hold of your kid, whether they need to be picked up from a sports practice or even just checking up on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that twelve is a good age, but what if they were not taught about the dangers? Having the parents decide when the child gets a phone is better because they can determine if their child is mature enough.
DeleteI disagree. I think that they should be able to get a phone whenever your responsible enough and your age is just a number. It shouldn't matter the age.
DeleteI think you should be able to get a phone when you're matured enough. Social media is filled with many weirdos and if you're too young, you may fall for their tricks into getting you to send them personal information. Phones are a great thing, but if they're going to get one before they're matured, then it should be one that cannot have any apps.
ReplyDeleteI agree, even if you give your kid a phone but just set some restrictions, like no social media, that way you can call them and check up on them, without worrying about the dangers of social media.
DeleteI agree, there are child predators everywhere, but if the parents are successfully checking up on their child there shouldn't be a concern.
DeleteI also agree if your kid is young and is getting a phone either tell them no social media or you can tell them that they can have an account and then if they get an account the parents should be monitoring on what they are doing on there and who they can be friends with
DeleteThats why i said 15 in my post thats when the maturity level starts to happen
DeleteI agree. When I first got my phone, my mom had me wait a few months before signing up for apps like Facebook.
DeleteI think that the youngest age kids should get a cell phone at is freshman year in high school. One of the worst ways you can be subject to bullying or unneeded stress is having a phone glued to you constantly worrying about what people think about you. Once you reach high school you start to care less about how everyone feels about you so there are less risks of getting yourself into trouble mentally. I would make sure to mention that a cell phone is a powerful tool and once you post something it can never be erased. Kids need to have a level of decision making that the majority of middle schoolers don't have to use a phone wisely.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and disagree.
DeleteI agree that phones can cause stress and make things more difficult, but it's not always true that people care less in high school, maybe they start to care more.
Although I agree with your mention of teens getting their phones their freshman year I disagree with you on the point of high schoolers not caring what others think although this may be true about you other who are displaced by the rapid changes of classes and not being in set classes with their friends from the past may find it more difficult to fit in so they are more pressured to fit in so they care a lot about what people think.
DeleteI dont agree with gettign the phone as a freshman but I got mine last year. but i do agree with oyur last statments about how nothing is erased and it will linger in a server bank somewhere for somone to use against you.
DeleteI think that the age shouldn't matter when getting a cellphone. The child getting the cell phone should be responsible and know their risks when handling it. I believe the parents should choose when they think that their child is ready to get one. There are many risks to having a cellphone, such as apps that give strangers their location.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's not really about the age of the child but how mature they are or how well they handle things like being responsible and knowing right from wrong when it comes to using the cell phones.
DeleteI agree. It should really be up to the parents and how mature the child is.
DeleteI think that you should be able to get a cell phone whenever your parents say you can. The age shouldn't matter. Your age is just a number. If your young and are getting a phone you should be responsible enough to know all the risks that there are on social media and on your phone.
ReplyDeletei agree.
DeleteI agree because its there choice if they want to buy your phone for you
DeleteI think that getting a cell phone should depend on maturity not age. I got my first on around 5th or 6th grade. I think there are many risks with giving mature kids phones, but it could be a lot worse with immature kids. When I first got my phone, I only had to show my parents what I was downloading. I never gave them a reason not to trust me, so they had no reason not to trust me.
ReplyDeleteI completly agree some people mature at different ages. everyone including children that have a phone and even adults can mis use them and be a risk to themselves and ect., but I think it comes down to trust and how much you cant trust your child and at what age.
DeleteAbsolutely, being mature enough is a key factor in cell phone responsibility. While maturity comes with age, people mature at different rates. Parents should be smart enough to know when kids are ready.
DeleteGetting a phone should not depend on your age, but your level of maturity. If you don't have the right mind set to know what to do and what not to do then you don't have the responsibility that comes with having a phone. If you give your child a phone at a young age the parent should be able to see what you're doing if need be. My parents always went through my phone once every two weeks and they had all my passwords.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the child should know the dangers in using a cell phone. I think it should be the parents decision on when they think their child is ready for a phone.
DeleteI think its all up to the parents honestly. I got my first phone when i was 14, and its not cause i was immature before, but phones are a hassle. Anything can happen. personally my parents never went through my phone or had my passwords, but i can understand why some parents would want them, all in all, its the parents desision.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, it does come down to their parents deciding when to get a phone and whether or not they can even have a phone in the first place.
DeleteYa I agree, its definetly the parents descision, kids now a days think having a phone is a right. Phones open up an entirly new world, in good ways, and in bad as well. Personally I would like to be my child to be mature before giving them one and also be able to trust them enough to not have to search through it, its their own personal device, I wouldnt want anyone to look through my phone.
DeleteI feel that it's the parents' opinions as to when their child should get a cellphone. If they feel that they are responsible enough and would stay out of trouble, then it's up to them. Children are pretty young today and a lot of them either have a cellphone or a device that can be used to access the internet.
ReplyDeleteI agree it should be the parents choice, it no one else's business anyways.
DeleteI agree that it should be the parents choice to give there kids a cellphone because every parent has there own views about it.
Deletei agree.
DeleteWhen you get your fist phone you need to really understand what it's like to have one and all the risks of having a phone, it is not really so much about the age but how mature you are when it comes to things, because how do expect to handle a phone when your immature? I think that more parents need to take that into consideration before giving there kids phones.
ReplyDeleteI agree that parents need to take a little more time and think of all the ricks and things that come with a phone before you just give a phone to your child but also remember that not everything about cellphones is bad there are many good things about them too.
DeleteIn my opinion I think that it should be the parents choice on when there child gets a cellphone there are many cellphone alternatives like ipods and ipads that children can use up until the parents want to give them full responsibility to have a actual cellphone. Some kids might have phones at such a young age because they have split up parents and need a cellphone to communicate with each parent.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Most kids do need a cellphone to communicate with their parents especially if they're involved in sports.
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ReplyDeleteI think kids should be able to get phones when there parents say they can and when your mature enough because then they might understand what its like easier because they're starting to hit the maturity level. I also believe if they get when there parents let you then they wont be getting in trouble with social media and stuff
ReplyDeleteI agree. The parent should decide when their kid can have a cell phone.
DeleteBill Gates is a smart guy in many ways, and I think this is one of his smartest ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get a kid a phone, you're essentially giving him free access to whatever is on the internet. That is, if you're not monitoring him, which could be hard and you could seem like an obsessive or protective parent. After all, there's a lot of bad things on the internet but the good mostly over levels the bad. So, you probably don't want to be overprotective and give your child a phone at a young age only to have you seem obsessive. A good age where they know what they're getting into and how to "avoid the bad" would probably be 14.
Age shouldn't matter. You could be 14 and still be completely immature. It should all depend on your maturity level. You need to know what is right and what isn't when it comes to using phones.
DeleteWhat I don't get is why parents don't download those free parental control apps. This way you give your child access to the internet, while preventing them from going on untrustworthy sites, or accidentaly putting out personal information.
DeleteI feel that Bill Gates is right for this, but for a different reason which maybe suprising. I feel kids should be able to get a phone yes when they are mature enough for the Internet yes, but also when they dont rely on their phone everything, I think they should be able to get a phone when they finally relize a phone is a tool not your life. Like me, I didn;t get a phone until I was 16 and I think that is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me because I dont rely on it for everything.
ReplyDeleteWith that, I add that I got my first phone at the age of 11, however my parents would not allow me to have social media, and I fell like that made the phone less of a social aspect and more of a, well.... phone.
DeleteI think that the risks of having cell phones at an early age like social media, surfing the interenet, and the lack of safty that come with having one are kind of pointless. When I got my first phone when I was 11, cell phones were already a contreversy. People wern't sure on what to do, so a lot of apps started apearing that could allow people to set restrictions on what a kid can, or can not do on his phone. At this point if you only want to give your kid a cell phone so he can make calls on it, you can do that now. The whole point in the "Dangers of the internet" is nonsence when you can just prevent them from going on the internet in the first place. So I think you can give a kid a cell phone as early as 10-12 because I fell like at that age someone should be responsible enough to take care of it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything wrong with having a cell phone at a young age as long as you use it responsibly. Yes some kids might not use social media correctly, but having a cell phone does not equal having a Facebook account, Instagram account, etc. The decision of when to get your kid a cell phone is completely up to the parent, and that's the way it should be.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't let my kids make accounts like those until they are at least 15. Social media is a big distraction, many other things could be getting done instead of sitting on a phone.
DeleteCell phones are very big distractions. My opinion will probably change but i think kids should be able to get phones at age 16. 14 at earliest. I would rather have my kid having face to face interactions and being social and not sitting inside on a phone or gaming system. There are risks in giving them a phone; seeing inappropriate things, predators, bullies, and other things. I would make sure my kid isn't gonna mess around or get them self in trouble. I would tell them not to send anything inappropriate to anyone
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