Children get first mobile at average age of 8

**SilverNodashi** · 23-Feb-09, 08:23 AM

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.

**garthu** · 23-Feb-09, 09:40 AM

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..

**Lou** · 18-Jul-10, 03:59 AM

It is scary if the technology dangers aren't completely eliminated.

Originally Posted by garthu

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..

You're dead right about keeping up with technology garthu and, I also think you're right about giving you kids cell phones at very early ages.

However, I recommend that you take a look at the "Parent's Guide to the CyberWorld of Children" and then review your belief that keeping a close eye on what they've been doing (still a good idea) is really getting the job done.

It's a real eye-opener.

Originally Posted by twinscythe12332

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?

There's not a lot of agreement on just how much privacy kids should have but personally, I think that they should have complete privacy for safe activity and ZERO privacy for potentially harmful activity. Until recently, that just wasn't possible but it is now.

Originally Posted by insulin

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.

That is certainly true insulin and I think it's a great idea to "...ask them to please respect the rules" but medical research at institutions all over the world have proven that the part of the human brain responsible for good judgment (sound reasoning) does not mature until about the age of 20-21.