At what age should children be allowed to have and use cellphones?

Hi! Alok!
It is a good question. I believe till the kids are out from their respective schools for higher education, they should not be allowed to have cell phones. Age wise if you as, I would say till a teenager is around 17-18 years of age, he/she should not be allowed to use cell phone and even if allowed, it should be on 'need basis'. Kids as young as 12 years old cannot understand the implications of using a cell phone. It affects their health and it works as a distraction for them. These younger teens may not understand the fact that cell phone meant for them are required to be used 'on need basis' or an emergency mode of communication. Those parents who just do no bother about these facts/implications and get cell phones for their younger teenagers to show off simply play with the fire. There is every possibility that teens would misuse the same and would get distracted from their prime goal of studies.

I had this discussion with my sister whose daughter has had a cell phone since she was five years old which I find it completely absurd! What on earth would a five year old do with a cell phone except play with it and she can use a toy one for that!

My sister and I had our girls at the same time and they are both seven now, her daughter still has her phone and my daughter keeps asking me why she can't have one to which I reply that I may consider it when she gets to High School at age 13, big emphasis on the word may.

Kids have no need for a phone unless they are away from their parents for extended periods and then it should only be used for emergency (yeah... right!)

Its really hard to say.As you said,many little kids that are under 12 have already got mobile phones cuz their parents think its necessary or kids want them cuz they think its cool.Well,I think children under 18 should not own a mobile phone.They can use mobile phones sometimes if necessary.Mobile phones are strictly abandoned in schools but children still take them.Mobile phones are cheap nowadays,if one is taken away by teacher,they buy another one.

I think when the child goes to middle school i think its safe for them to have a cell phone, when they have a cell phone they should put the parents number as ICE ice stands for in case of emergency if anything ever happens that is the first number paramedics look for

children age 12, actually can be trusted to use the phone. but with a note not to misused. better for children age 12 be trusted to use a regular phone only. mobile phone which is a facility does not have any video player facilities. that is not used for things that are not appropriate for children age 12 years, like to watch xxx films. as parents we have to give understanding to the child before the trust using a mobile phone. would give the sanction if misused.

Congrats on starting a great discussion. I think children should be allowed to use mobile phone when they reach their teens that is 13. Before that they are too young to need to use mobile phone.

Neither of my boys have cell phones but many of there friends do. I have told my 14yr old that he is not getting one until he is 16. I think that that is the age when they really start to need them. He will be driving and working at a job by then. But I think that younger than that usually isn't right. Unless you let you kids run wild why would they need one? Some people say they have them because there parent work and the kids get home first. But if I am running late and my son gets home before me he knows to stay in the house and lock the doors till I get home. There is a house phone if her need to call me so why does he need a cell?


Many of these kids think it is a toy not something you need. So adults are this way to I know but cant do nothing about that lol. My son says all his friends have one so what if all your friends had the swine flu would you want it to? I always know were my kids are, and what they are doing . I always have all the kids in my neighborhood at my house and I don't allow cell phones here. All there parents know this. they all have my number, know me, and were I live.so why need cell phone?

My ex bought my 14 year old one about 2 years ago. I refuse to put min on it and it has been sitting on my fridge in its case brand new since then.Heck if he wants to throw away money he can start paying child support! not buying stupid crap that our son doesn't need and that he knows I will not let him have. He knows he can call here any time and talk to our son. and our son can call him anytime he wants to. Kids an cell phones get on my nerves bad. lol OK done ranting.

hi,in my opinion, i don't think there is a stand age as a rule for us to allowed our child to have and use cellphones,every child are different,some one can be control themself, but some one can't,they are not so matured,they can't got a schedule for studying without their parents,doing everything should their partents help.for those child, i don't think have and use cellphones is useful.on the other hand,eight every parents can be pay for four cellphones for their family.if using wrong, it will be add more budget for every month.

My mam got me a mobile for my birthday when I was 12 because I had just started secondary school and was getting the bus on my own every day to the other end of the city.

I was responsible with it at first, but then when I got to 13 I started making a lot of friends outside of school and was texting all the time. I spent way too much money on phone credit all the time

I think it would have been better if my mam had got me the phone but been in control of the money on it until I was 15 or so, then I wouldn't have had that problem

I think children should be allowed to use cellphone when they become eighteen.They should start using cellphones when they go to junior college.If we give it to them at small age they may loose the phone or they may get addicted to it by playing games.The radiation from the phone can also harm their bodies.