Children get first mobile at average age of 8

[insulin]

let's take the example of a 17 year old taking drugs

The reality is we failed this 17 year old. We failed to force government to enforce the law. We failed this child because industry is taking all our time for we must work thus our children is left for the wolfs. We failed this child because WE didn’t say STOP to the money revolution. We failed this child because we will rather listen to teachers and shrinks because we think they know better! We as a community failed this 17 year old by allowing ourselves to be blinded by work and bills and all kinds of things that really doesn’t matter!

You really don’t get it do you... And I don’t mean this in the wrong way but Every... EVERY single grave that hold the body of a young soul is blood on our hands. Because we are too blind to self-obsessed to realise that a child lost his or her young life just because you and I had to work overtime. Just because you and I don’t have the time to listen.

Technology is not the true evil here, it never was. Yes it is made out to be but it is really not. The problem is we must start to think: What can I do without so that I can work less hours and spend more time with my children.

Better yet MAKE IT A LAW! That a mother will only work half-day while the child is at school. And that the Father may have a day in the week to spend with his children! MAKE IT A LAW! That is the only true way.

Don’t tell me it is unrealistic! Don’t tell me that business and production is so critical that you have be a robot 24 7. We can change this system ... But sadly the willpower is simply not there.

I agree with one thing if your child is using drugs it is because I have failed! And it is because you have failed. It is NOT their fault... We the grownups are at fault. We failed to remove the drugs thus the problem exists.

[Chatmaster]

I am one of the guilty parties here. Both me and my wife run our own companies. We are relatively free to decide when we want to do what, but we are very busy. My now 10 year old daughter got her Cellphone when she was 8. It changed our lives a lot. We now know where she is at all times and in terms of safety it certainly has it's benefits. However, I made sure she got a entry level cell phone that are basically only able to phone and SMS. No mixit etc. It is a plain and simple cellphone.

[twinscythe12332]

that's good. I'm dead serious when I say if I had mxit when I was 10, I would be one F**ked up individual. originally it was just messaging between friends who have a cellphone. now there's a "joebanker" place to check your "moola" (mxit money bought with real money), a "tradepost"(where you buy all kinds of useless crap akin to those "get snuggle fluffums the singing bunny on your mobile phone or you won't be cool!" adverts) and chatrooms (which cost moola to send messages in). every time you log in now there's a message from tradepost waiting for you. "check out this awesome cool competition, and these totally awesome backgrounds!!!" and the like.

[insulin]

Again the enemy is not the software

Again the enemy is not the software that MIXIT uses... The reason behind this software was to send messages cheaply and yes chatting with more than one friend at one time. Companies destroyed these ideals because they knew that a lot of money can be made here. With over 2 million users you know they are making money. However MIXIT and other companies like MIXIT are abused by the depraved and perverted group of individuals that knows how to manipulate young boys and girls to do stupid things like running away from home. This problem is as old as chatting itself.

Now for the solution, the law can force companies like MIXIT to enforce age groups and monitor the chats in rooms and with permission from the parents monitor the private chats between individuals. This means you will have transcripts of every single massage mailed to you every day.

The point is we must force the government to enforce these laws and take interest in our children. Because drugs are a stone trough away from any schools, gymnasiums, colleges, malls and especially clubs. If you think instant chat is a worry, then take a good look at the drug problems we have.

Our children are easy prey for these monsters... Only because we are too weak to do anything about it. It is true we are forever saying this is a problem that is a problem.

Well let me tell you something if we asked the government to develop a tracking system and allow implants of small tracking devices you will know who your child has been talking to and who he or she is with at all times. This will make kidnapping and drug dealing impossible! Because the implants will detect the presence of drugs and alert the police within seconds.

But no! Technology is evil! So think what you want do what you want say what you want but every death is on our hands especially the deaths of children. This makes me both angry and sad... so very sad.

[Chatmaster]

Well let me tell you something if we asked the government to develop a tracking system and allow implants of small tracking devices you will know who your child has been talking to and who he or she is with at all times. This will make kidnapping and drug dealing impossible! Because the implants will detect the presence of drugs and alert the police within seconds.

If government would even think of doing this, I am out of here, seriously! There is no way any government will deprive me of my privacy like that, Yeezzzzz I hope you are not serious about that suggestion.

The key responsibility are not with government it is with the parents. The next thing we will hear is that government will tell parents how to discipline their children, nah parents are the responsible parties not government. Technology are not to blame either but if you create the platform you need to assess the threats and deal with it. Clearly some companies are not dealing with it and that should not be allowed, because then technology becomes the evil.

[twinscythe12332]

I'm in agreement with chatmaster. a "big brother" system is invasive to the extreme. that's when technology becomes the problem. an example of this kind of control would be the movie "equilibrium." they were given drugs so they wouldn't show emotions. those who showed emotions were burnt alive. and with any system of control, there will never be 100%. people rebel, people react, people neglect... it's just how it works. the thing with mxit is the anonymity and the distance. you can be 50KM away and tell a guy what you really think about him. you can set your number to be anonymous, and attempt to get the person you added into drugs. I will add someone with an anonymous phone number tell them that unless they have a phone no shown, I won't chat and then delete them. just because there is too much bull with the anonymous people. the technology has been created to meet one purpose, but due to the way they operate, it can serve as multiple. it doesn't mean they want it to happen any more than the victim wants it to. but people will be people, end of story.

[insulin]

I hope you are not serious about that suggestion! "I am"

"If government would even think of doing this, I am out of here, seriously! There is no way any government will deprive me of my privacy like that, Yeezzzzz I hope you are not serious about that suggestion."

When I pointed out the tracking system I took in consecration that parents are anything but responsible. I considered the criminal aspect the criminal mind and the failing law systems. I even took into consideration that yes the only privacy we will have will be in our minds.

But absolute safety will come at a price. We will have to give up privacy and allow our bodies to be monitored for drugs, alcohol and physical abuse 24 7. But right now we are paying for our privacy with the lives of innocence.

Yes it is true that this system itself can and will imprison us all. However we are already slaves to the system. We work for Companies that see us as a disposable commodity. We live to feed the banks money and go home every-night irritated and frustrated.

So we are left with two options: One: We change the world we live in. Second: we give up our right to privacy and allow for a monetary system that will control every single aspect of our lives from cradle to grave.

I personally like option “One” more but to change the world we must do things like work together and stand up against corrupted industry... I just don’t see this happening....

[twinscythe12332]

you didn't happen to be in Durban just before 2000 shouting the end of the world is nigh when the Y2K bug came out, did you? because you're seriously paranoid.

[insulin]

twinscythe12332

Y2K was a joke. No I don’t belief in doom and gloom. I do however belief that our law systems is failing. Our government is mismanaged and our social structure is crippled because we are simply overworked. So yes turn me into the slave that I am!

I will work for food and water and to see my children be given these same two basic rights will give me joy. I am happy to live in a complex owned by government and or Industry.

I just want to live a life. Any life! But to work endlessly only to see the once you love lost in criminal shadows is not worth it. To work day and night just so that the banks can take it all and watch me suffer is not worth it.

But again there are those that have a good healthy life and I can see why they will fight to protect that. But that good healthy life is only for a select few no matter how hard you work. I am old enough to know that this is fact.

[garthu]

Wow insulin, you're pretty passionate about your views here! No doubt your gonna take the "passionate posts" award end of year!

I gotta say though (just an opinion, same as i value your opinion all be it i might have a different one!) that the thought of a controlling government is what is getting us in so much cuck already. Giving them more control... i don't care where in the world but it really mess up the planet! In governments, especially Africa, corruption rules. Giving them power over my living.. lets just say i would take up the good fight of resistance (and agreed they control to much already). Option one as you say is the way - but once we give up the fight for that, what do we have left? Nothing!

Crime is here because we dont have our freedom! We cant hire people under certain conditions, we cant prosecute because of stupid laws, constitutional and other, we give people a life without expecting in return (houses, free water) , we cant take action against crime without fear of the law.

Reckon i could on and on but i want more freedom!

[insulin]

Convergent has too much power.

First of I will always respect any person and there point of view. And despite my view I would much rather write a bit of poetry and or a new novel. Really I don’t like to think like this all the time. Sadly the truth is we are really just puppets you know. We have to do what law and government say or we face imprisonment and the most basic right! The right to a safe incarceration is being violated by none other than the government themselves. They will ignore the prison rapes, slavery and brutal treatment because they have the power to do just that.

We gave them that power. In a movie called V for Vendetta it was said that a government must fear its people. We are no longer respected by our government. I can prove this by pointing to the CCMA that will rather tell you to contact a TV show then to help you. Then there is the Consumer Council that is basically powerless to help victims of commercial industry.

Lastly our poor police stations, underfunded corrupted and basically incapable to serve and protect. Just take a look at the media and crime.

Now technology can aid a good government to implement good systems beneficial systems that will aid to end corruption and crime. This type of technology will also aid a corrupted government in total enslavement.

The technology is not the problem. It is the people that use it…

[twinscythe12332]

apologies if I seemed disrespectful. I've just seen you move along from topic to topic speaking about the topic and then moving into an emapssioned speech about how we're slaves to the government and banking institutions. while I do understand and feel that your views are important, and that in the end everything relates to money, a bit more topic specific would be cool (we've moved from talking about cellphones and kids to government corruption 0_0) anyway, my 2 cents.

[Dave A]

Ok. Let's not get personal, please. Stick to the points of the debate and we'll all still be friends at the end of the day.

We've all got different views and they come from different life experiences. Let's remember it's all valid!

[insulin]

twinscythe12332

I can understand and respect what you are saying. And yes I am totally of topic. I will only say this. Don’t give your child a mobile phone because you trust the child. Don’t blame the mobile chat programs for kidnapping because a mobile phone is not a symbol of trust it is a tool for your child to use when he or she is in trouble.

Secondly mobile chat programs can be abused because we did not force the government to exercise control over these chat systems. Blame the companies because they don’t want to install the systems needed so that you the parent can read the chat transcripts via e-mail.

Lastly take responsibility to teach your children the dangers of the mobile phone. Respect your child by giving them the truth. Trust your child because your child trust in you. No symbols of trust just simple trust. And please be vigilant and attentive and always be on the lookout for possible danger. They are your most beautiful and wonderful gift you will ever receive in your life so love them with all their mistakes.

[insulin]

I also wish to apologise if I offended anyone. It was never my intention to do so. I wish only to educate and be educated by you.