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CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In the excerpt “On the other hand, it also provides a kind of electronic tether to home.” (lines 35-36) Marybeth Hicks means that