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Thread: Children get first mobile at average age of 8

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    Gold Member twinscythe12332's Avatar
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    Children get first mobile at average age of 8

    read here

    that's pretty scary.

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    But researchers were also told that by the age of 10, children were shopping online using their parents' debit or credit cards.
    That really puts a whole new spin on target markets! Ofcource that survey is UK based, it does still have some affect here in SA.
    once there was a man. the end.

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    Platinum Member SilverNodashi's Avatar
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    I've seen way too many school kids with cellphones already. And although a lot of innocent moms would protest and say it's for their safety, I don't think parents realize what children can actually do (download games, ringtones, porn, viruses, etc) with cellphones these days. AND, often times the child is more advanced with the technology than the parent.

    I personally won't give my child a phone till he's out of school.
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    Gold Member garthu's Avatar
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    I hear you softdux, controversy over cancer, what content they get etc BUT (aha the big but) my daughter is 10 and got her cell at ten. When she goes out to friends etc i wouldnt have it any other way. She also has a panic system on her phone. Wouldn't have it any other way. Don't know if i could let her out to sleep overs etc unless she had it with her. Also have a 15 year. My agreement is that i have access to whatever they do. I can check history at anytime i feel like it. The rules are no chatting unless they can answer EXACTLY who that person is and where they live etc etc. They cant delete history if i do spot checks. They know it's for there safety as i show some of the horror stories..

    Way i see it is that i have to keep up with the technology to know what to look for... just my opinion..
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    Gold Member twinscythe12332's Avatar
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    I understand your point of view on that, and you have a good methodology going. Is there a stage you reach before they feel you invade their privacy completely, or do they just accept that you do checks and try keep their phone as clean as possible?

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    Gold Member garthu's Avatar
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    They have accepted it simply as the rule was laid out from day one before they had the phones. Probably wouldnt like to enforce after they had for a while

    The bottom line is i try to "assist" more than control and certainly dont be to extreme. An example happened yesterday ... . I found my son (15) had been using pretty hectic language on facebook like f### (written like that but the meaning CLEAR!! and sorry if offensive but thats the way it was) His mom wanted him banned from facebook the works! That i think would do exactly the opposite of intended.

    I just gave him the correct info... don't do it in a public enviro like that. Many people wont like it, doesnt make you a better man or person in fact opposite etc. Don't want to see it again etc. I know he'll swear with his mates, i used to, but he mustn't do it like that.

    I think communication ideas and everything have changed so much since i was a youngster (40 now) and used to swear and do stupid things - they just have different channels and cant always vent it the same way we used to by being out all day riding the suburbs - they not allowed to for all the other fears...

    I think about what i used to get up to and still pretty thankfull they havnt been up to some the things i did Not yet anyway.....
    Garth

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    Angry Excuse me but are you from the past?

    I cannot belief I am typing this! Really we live in South Africa. Teachers cannot be trusted nor can anyone that works with your children ever be completely trusted! This is the golden rule when it comes to the safety of your children!

    Look yes you can access porn and horrible stuff on your phone. But they can also do this on a friend’s phone or computer connected to a mobile phone. It is easy! The point is!!!!! Do you trust your children and the answer is NO you don’t because they are children and will make mistakes. So I recommend that you give your child a phone because the dangers in our world are real and not because you trust them!

    Teach yourself the technology and set down rules that your children must follow. Or you can use specialised programs to monitor your children’s phones.

    Don’t tell me about how you monitor your child’s phone because you are living a lie... They can manipulate a phone to show you what you want to see. Just educate them of all the dangers and ask them to please respect the rules.

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by insulin View Post
    They can manipulate a phone to show you what you want to see. Just educate them of all the dangers and ask them to please respect the rules.
    I'll endorse that

    My theory was once they knew enough to beat the protection net/system I had in place (in my case that was some internet security program, might have been Nortons in the days when it was the best there was), they were somewhere near ready to deal with what lay on the other side.

    And it seems it worked out pretty well in the end too.

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    Silver Member Loman's Avatar
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    At least there's one good thing:

    Wendy van den Hende, chief executive of the charity, said: "Children today face a kind of 'technological tipping point' forcing them to develop financial awareness at an earlier age."
    The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on. - Robert Bloch

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    Gold Member garthu's Avatar
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    It's now confirmed that all reporters use TFSA for there "ideas"

    Article re cell phones and kids
    Garth

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