What is the right age for kids to get a cell phone?

[CyberInferno]

What is the right age for kids to get a cell phone?

This poll is in conjunction with this week's Technology Round-up (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1035312).

[Theseventhson]

15-17.

[_Andrew]

It's true, us Aussies are big on our mobiles or "cell phones"... I had my first phone when I was like 12... my parents thought it to be more of a matter of security rather than "let's spoil our son"

It was around this age that I started to go out alone etc...

So I think they just thought it's only sensible I have a way of contacting my parents/somebody if I get into trouble or get stuck, and i'll prolly do the same for my kids.

[denissuxx]

Pretty similar opinions here. I got one when I was 11 I think

[uglystar03]

I would say they should get a cellphone when they can pay for it themselves. I got a job at 16, so I chose 15-17.

[just.Starla.]

15-17. I got my first cell phone just after my 16th birthday, so I think that is an appropiate age.

[MADSTA]

15 at the youngest, but ideally 16.

[encmetalhead]

Whenever they start going out with friends at night which is around 15-17/High school

[Indoor Living]

I got my first phone when I was 14, mainly because it made my family's plan a lot cheaper. I think that's a little bit too young though. 15-17.

[softhands]

I got mine when I was 17 and didn't send my first text until I was 18 :shrug:

[HoldThatSound]

12-14.

[jay_klinkhammer]

When a teen gets a car and is driving, it would be dumb to not take advantage of that. Very useful. 15-17

[DCfreak]

I'd say 12-14 because it would be a good sense of responsibility for them. It would be nice to always be able to keep in contact with your kid and its an easy way to test boundries and figure out how well they can respect property. I would give them a very limited plan, but I see nothing wrong with a 12 year old having a cell phone whenever they are spending the night with friends every weekend.

[bladerdude360]

Everyone in my family got one after they graduated eight grade. It's worked out pretty well so far. It's kinda wierd to see like 8 and 9 year olds on cell phones, but I think that like 12-14 isn't so bad if the kids aren't using the phones 24/7 and sending like 2,000+ texts a month.

[SanePsychotic]

When a kid starts to drive and/or get a job then I think a cell phone is needed. If the kid is going out a lot when they're 12-14 then I think it might be reasonable to give them a cell phone then, but with a very limited plan and for use only when they go out. But if I could avoid giving my child a cell phone I would, as I completely abhor them.

[Thomas Balkcom]

16

[Ryzenfall]

I'd say 16 too. That's at least old enough to remember a time when you didn't have one. It's scary to think kids are growing up not knowing how to survive without one.

[Indoor Living]

I'd say 16 too. That's at least old enough to remember a time when you didn't have one. It's scary to think kids are growing up not knowing how to survive without one.

So true. I didn't get one until last year, and now kids not even in middle school yet, already have them. It's too much.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

I'd say 14-15. There's really no need to have one before high school.

[AussieBoy]

when theyre old enough to 'sext'

[tonyC4L]

I think around 13, as long as they show they can be responsible about it. It seems that it would be advantageous for parents to give them one at this age because they'll probably be spending a good amount of time going out with friends or staying after school and stuff. No texting though, that would be a disaster.

[fadedmemories]

I got my first phone when I was 12 so I went with 12-14.

[phil19]

i dont see why anyone under 15 has any need for a mobile phone

[Troggy]

I didn't have a cell until college, but nowadays I'd say once they have a license they should probably have a cell so you can keep track of 'em.

[Rest_Easy]

12-14 is ridiculous. No need, that is want.

I'd say when a kid gets a car they get a phone (with bluetooth so they don't talk while driving which in and of itself is scary enough).
Also, They must not use it during classes. If they do then no txt allowed until
a) out of high school
b) summer

All these kids do these days is txt, and during classes. Makes them dumber I think (and kids seem overly dramatic and even more arrogant these days)

I got a cell junior year of college because I moved to a house with random people and there was no landline. Cell outside the car/inside school is a distraction and a luxury.

[newfoundmichael]

You don't need a phone until you can drive.

[Jake Denning]

12-15 = cheap plan

15-17 = whatever, as long as they atleast help out

[bv_princess1]

I think getting a cell phone from 8-14 is ridiculous because there is really no point in having one. It's funny to see little kids with phone and they think they are all grown and stuff. I think everything as a certain time for it.

[mutualaddiction]

picked 15-17, but I think 12-14 could also be reasonable, especially for safety reasons and soforth.

[n1asfan]

well I started sexting when i was 15 so.....

[fightinirish217]

When you go into high school, 14 or 15 I guess that would be. There's no need for one before that. I have a sister in 5th grade and a bunch of kids have cell phones, including iphones, it's insane.

[Tristan Needler]

Depends on the kid, really. I think whenever the kid starts staying out with friends rather than coming home by 8:00 every night, just so parents can keep in touch.

It's weird, people now are excited about getting cell phones. When I got one, I kept trying to tell my mom not to get it. I thought it was stupid.

[sweepthenation]

I got my first at like 14 or 15 I think. I think 13 is fine to get one

[batmannj]

15-17 because it makes more sense. It is easier to stay in touch, kids are doing stuff by themselves more often and can drive by then.

[Poe-tryGirl]

15-17

[Chromefox]

I still don't have a cell phone. I really detest them. The worst thing in the world to me, which I suffer with every single person I know who owns a cell phone, is trying to hang out with them while they are constantly interrupting whatever activity we are engaged in by texting someone else, as though that takes priority over the time they are spending with me. Just go fucking spend your time with whoever is on your phone if their attention is more important than mine. And these are young adults demonstrating irresponsibility with a phone. Imagine the attention span of a 12 year old with one then.

Kids don't know when the appropriate time to turn off a cell phone is, thus I feel they should not be permitted to use one until they're 18.

Sure, it's nice to have one for emergencies or so parents can keep tabs on their kids with ease, but I don't feel this redeems the complete inability to focus on a task when a cell phone is present.

[xBrandNew]

any teenager can should be able to own a cell phone, but 8 year olds is ridiculous.

[frostedhearts]

I got my cell phone when I was 10...... but I wasn't allowed to call anyone except my parents.

[LamarVannoy]

15-17. i saw an 11 year old on the bus the other day with an Iphone, which is ridiculous. what the hell does an 11 year old need an Iphone for? how does an 11 year old even know how to use an Iphone? i dont even know how to use an Iphone.

[fueledbyvictory]

I really hate seeing kids that are like ten years old with cell phones. Wtf do they need it for? It's ridiculous.

[TotalCollapse]

Around 14 or 15. I got my phone when I was 14 and at that time, it seemed like nearly all of the kids my age had had one for quite a while. I feel like someone should not get a phone until they are responsible enough to identify a reasonable limit for how much they use it and are able to follow that. A teenager does not need to send thousands of texts a month and be texting constantly throughout school. I also believe the kids should have to pay for some of it, either the phone or the bill. Phones are honestly a toy to most kids and they just want it to show off to their peers. A 12 year old does not need the latest, greatest phone with unlimited texting and calling.

[didwhat77times]

Whatever age a kid is when they need a cell phone is the right age for them to get a one.

I got my first cell phone when I was 13. It was a free Nokia from Sprint.
My mom's cell number was an out of town number, and only one school phone could make out of town calls.
I mainly used my cell phone to call my mom about going over to friends houses or staying after school, because most of my friends didn't have cell phones.

[TangledUp]

16. Driving age. Of course, I didn't get one until I was 19. My brother got one when he was barely 14. X-)

[abbysmith]

I got one this year, but I wasn't supposed to get one until I was 16.

[apsterling]

Whenever it becomes a necessity. For me that was freshman year when I'd be bicycling to school daily, have marching band practices, and overall more things to possibly go wrong that would need notifying my parents of. I had to pay for the phone the second time around (the first time was a crappy free phone), which isn't terrible, set me back $50 for an Env2.

[I am Mick]

I don't think it can ever hurt to have a cell. I didn't get one till I was like 17, which was pretty ridic.

8 year olds need to tweet.

[ihatecayte]

get a driver's license, get a phone. makes sense. your parents or someone else's parents drive you before your 16, so what's the point? they should know where you are.

[KellieIsMe]

i got my first cell phone a month before my eleventh birthday. so i chose 12 - 14

[Bruised26]

I was 12 when I got my first phone, but I think its fine if any one over 11 gets one.

[3GunGaz]

I went with 12-14 as a matter of security. So long as they're not always on it and use it for when it's needed.

I have NO idea when I got my first phone though. I feel old but when people first started getting phones they were all hand-me-downs from the parents (as were mine). Those motorolla bricks that barely fit in a pocket.