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Debate Score:14
Arguments:14
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 Is there a good age in which to let a young person have a cell phone? (14)

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Kuklapolitan(4313) pic



Is there a good age in which to let a young person have a cell phone?

When is a good time to allow the use/ownership of a cell phone and what might you think the rules governing their use should be?  By giving a young person a cell phone are we letting the genie out of the bottle on unnecessary texting?

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I'm certainly no authority on what age a kid should have a cell phone but my grandson, who is 10, has one. He uses it to call home in case he's leaving the spot that his mothers knows he's playing at but...he also texts his little girlfriend! That added an extra $25 - 30.00 to the bill last month and I thought they were going to have a baby while they all talked about texting, lol. I would have thought that 13 would have been a good age in today's world but I guess I was wrong!

Side: when it is necessary for safety

I babysit an 11-year-old who has a cell phone and a debit card, but she's the child of a struggling single mother and she is very responsible with a great deal of independence. When a child is independent from his/her parents, a cell phone is beneficial to the child's safety and his/her parents' state of mind.

Side: When they're independent
1 point

I think kids should have a cell phone when:

1. They are out on their own enough to need one for safety reasons.

2. They are responsible enough to listen to you at least to some degree about how much calling/texting is allowed.

Hopefully these 2 things will go hand in hand, even though they won't. That sentence made NO SENSE. Sorry. My point is, it's an imperfect system, but if the kid is out on his/her own a lot, I think the risk of excessive texting/calling should be taken in exchange for the safety of having a way of calling for help.

Also, some companies let you disable texting.

Side: when it is necessary for safety

Oh, that's good to know. I'll mention it to my daughter and see if texting can be disabled on his phone alone. Thanks for that tip!

Side: when it is necessary for safety
1 point

100% up to the parents. Every child is different, every parent is different, every situation is different. For myself, I would give them one as soon as they could use it because I think introducing technology is beneficial at a young age, and I think it's a safety issue. If I thought it was distracting from school, I would take it away quicker than they could blink, and they could curse my name and hate me for it forever, I don't care. But if they're responsible with it, I'm all for it.

Side: When they're independent
1 point

Basically, a child should receive his first phone when he starts staying after school for a sport or a club or when he begins doing things over the weekend that require him to call his parents to pick him up. My first phone was one of those phones you get for free with a cell phone plan and I got it because I started staying after school regularly in 7th grade. And the only reason I got one is just in case I missed the after school bus because sometimes the people in the office left by then. I don't see a reason for a 10 year old to get a phone if he isn't even going to use it.

Side: When they stay after school

Nicky does use his Mick...just to call home in case he wants to go somewhere with his friends or is moving to another location. He always lets his parents know where he is at all times.

Side: when it is necessary for safety
1 point

As a side note, I only said "he" because it was easier than "he or she" and I chose 10 as a random age. What a coincidence! ;) But I'm glad to hear he is using it responsibly!

Side: when it is necessary for safety

Over eighteen, have you heard their conversations? I thought phones were used for intelligent conversations not texting, taking pictures and playing games. One can only hope that radiation from phones regulates themselves over time. Brain research needs the extra funding.

Side: When they're independent
1 point

Cellphones are very important for social reasons to older teenagers; however, younger people often need to walk home or are otherwise separated from parents. It's a good idea for them to have phones for safety purposes.

Side: when it is necessary for safety
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

How did the human race ever exist without cell phones? Teenagers should go and actually socialize instead of texting someone. As for safety, states are working to ban cell phones when driving. Safer without them, people should be paying attention to what is going on around them. This is especially true to those that are young.

Side: When they're independent
Damon(6) Disputed
1 point

Something about a complaint on texting as a substitute for direct socializing over the internet seems out of place...

On the safety thing, not texting while driving is a reasonable argument (as a pedestrian, I'd like to at least make eye-contact with the person who runs me over), but you also have to consider that it's a very practical tool for getting in touch with people.

Side: There's no definitive answer
xander(438) Disputed
1 point

A lot of it is convenience; yes, we could write letters, or we could be having this conversation in person- but we aren't. And I was talking about younger teens, who are old enough to walk home and be at home alone, but might need to call someone in an emergency. I'm all for a cellphone ban while driving- I don't think it's possible to drive and chat at the same time safely. However, they're great tools when it come to quick communication, which is really important if safety is a problem.

Side: when it is necessary for safety