Do children really need phones?

ancapailldorcha

So, there's tons and tons of news stories nowadays pertaining to the dangers that smartphones pose to children and teenagers. I'm just wondering, wouldn't it be easier if parents didn't buy phones for their offspring? I see no reason why a child, especially someone under say, 15 should be allowed a phone. My folks refused to buy me one until I was 18 and, in hindsight, I think that that was the way to go.
What do ye think?

castletownman

But how is one meant to keep their little brat entertained then?

It's dangerous outdoors

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Sure just impant tracking chips into their skulls and then you can always find out where they are - no phone needed.

It is ridiculous. Society in general are far too attached to their phones - people don't even bother to look where they're walking anymore because their so busy texting or playing one of those stupid apps. Not to mention when you're out having a few pints with some friends and you've got that one eejit in the group who can't go 2 minutes without checking their facebook or trying to show you a 'hilarious' video they had stumbled upon earlier during their daily 6 hours on YouTube.

I'm not a huge fan of recent updates in technology (as you may have already guessed), what was wrong with having a 3210 that could receive calls and texts and have the odd game of Snake on. I'm expecting to hear any day now that someone has invented an app for wiping your a$$.

Cantremember

Their parents need their children to have phones for peace and quiet and irresponsibility and something to complain about to Joe Duffy when it all goes wrong.

Frosty McSnowballs

How else am I going to send them my sexy pics!

anncoates

They don't need them per se but that said, my ma would have had a fair few less near heart attacks if I'd had one when I was in my early teens.

we'llallhavetea

my nine year old has a wee crap samsung phone, in case she freaks out at pony camp and needs me to rescue her!

ian87

I had a child in my class a few years ago who had a phone, one of many I might add. She was the only child I could see whom had a credible excuse to have a mobile. Her dad was a bank manager so the risk of a tiger kidnapping was high and they wanted her to be as safe as possible. This was back in 09 when tiger kidnapping was an all too regular occurrence.

Stheno

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Sure just impant tracking chips into their skulls and then you can always find out where they are - no phone needed.

It is ridiculous. Society in general are far too attached to their phones - people don't even bother to look where they're walking anymore because their so busy texting or playing one of those stupid apps. Not to mention when you're out having a few pints with some friends and you've got that one eejit in the group who can't go 2 minutes without checking their facebook or trying to show you a 'hilarious' video they had stumbled upon earlier during their daily 6 hours on YouTube.

I'm not a huge fan of recent updates in technology (as you may have already guessed), what was wrong with having a 3210 that could receive calls and texts and have the odd game of Snake on. I'm expecting to hear any day now that someone has invented an app for wiping your a$$.

I have one mobile which is for work, and switch it off at weekends, I don't use apps unless it's the likes of currency converters when I am travelling, but during the week if I am out, I'll check my phone as I can get requests for calls etc up to 10pm each night.

There is a balance

ancapailldorcha

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

I'm not a huge fan of recent updates in technology (as you may have already guessed), what was wrong with having a 3210 that could receive calls and texts and have the odd game of Snake on. I'm expecting to hear any day now that someone has invented an app for wiping your a$$.

Absolutely nothing. I have a Samsung C-3350 which does the above and a wee bit more. My mate who's a journalist ridiculed me for it to which I replied, it's dirt cheap, incredibly durable (especially by today's standards) and the battery lasts for over a week.

ancapailldorcha

aya startin wha wrote: »

my nine year old has a wee crap samsung phone, in case she freaks out at pony camp and needs me to rescue her!

I can appreciate that there are justifiable reasons but the phenomenon as a whole is just ludicrous.
Also, your avatar pic is awesome.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

aya startin wha wrote: »

my nine year old has a wee crap samsung phone, in case she freaks out at pony camp and needs me to rescue her!

That's the poshest thing I've ever heard... ha
Pony Camp!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

That's the poshest thing I've ever heard... ha
Pony Camp!

I did meant that in the nicest way possible. It was a great sentence. Reminded me of something that Jack Whitehall might say.

we'llallhavetea

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I can appreciate that there are justifiable reasons but the phenomenon as a whole is just ludicrous.
Also, your avatar pic is awesome.

arra c'mere will ya stop?! my fabulous avatar making person is currently trying to make the background translucent

yeah, she barely uses the phone, she does have an ipad though and is looking for a "gaming" laptop for the bday, so she can make minecraft videos :'D
think the comments will be set to OFF! :P

we'llallhavetea

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

That's the poshest thing I've ever heard... ha
Pony Camp!

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

I did meant that in the nicest way possible. It was a great sentence. Reminded me of something that Jack Whitehall might say.

haha! if only you knew :P

sure she loves the ponying! flat out hai!

Stained Class

My eldest is almost 9, so spends a fair bit of time out playing in the estate with her friends.

They all go into each others houses & she sometimes 'forgets' when it's time to come home.

Cue me knocking on doors...

I was thinking it would be cool to get her a phone in the next year or two. just to remind her to come home & that. Something simple that just does calls & texts.

I'm told, she'd get laughed at with such a device.

Apparently if you dont have a smart/iPhone by the time you make your Confirmation, you're nobody.:eek:

hatrickpatrick

I was with you up until 15.
Honestly, people who think kids from 12 onwards don't have social lives are living in a dream world. For me, that started in first year of secondary school.

Femme_Fatale

From pre-teens (i.e. the heading off by themselves age) onwards, a basic phone would be no harm IMO. First smartphone could be a basic one too, whose settings are monitored by the parents.
I know we didn't have them when we were kids, but our parents didn't have stuff we had as kids. Technology is pretty essential nowadays.

dxhound2005

It's good to see that nobody has expressed any concern about the possible health risks to children. Because even though the internet is full such stuff it's probably totally exaggerated.

But try to put a phone mast or an electricty pylon within half a mile of their houses and there will be howls of protest about how their brains will be fried, and all the cancer clusters that will follow. Which is funny considering they get thousands of times more RF from the phone beside their ear than from any mast.

Kathnora

Phones can be useful to keep in contact with your children and vice versa. But what about all the bullying texts and snap chat stuff that goes on among 10 to 12 year old girls in particular. I've seen evidence of it and it ain't pretty!

heyjude

Do children really need phones ?

Need...., in most cases No, Want a phone, well thats another thing entirely.

But even if there is a need for a phone, there isn't any Need for an iPhone or other smartphone. The reason that most parents cite for giving their kids a phone is to keep the kid safe and so they can contact them when needed, no need for a smartphone for that.

A kid is safer without a smartphone anyway, as your cheap, run of the mill text and voice phone won't allow them unsupervised access to the internet.

Stained Class

dxhound2005 wrote: »

It's good to see that nobody has expressed any concern about the possible health risks to children. Because even though the internet is full such stuff it's probably totally exaggerated.

But try to put a phone mast or an electricty pylon within half a mile of their houses and there will be howls of protest about how their brains will be fried, and all the cancer clusters that will follow. Which is funny considering they get thousands of times more RF from the phone beside their ear than from any mast.

I remember discovering that my younger brother had started smoking. He was 9 at the time.

I was 11 & horrified by this. He just said that all his mates were doing it......& they were.

Buying 'separates' at the local shop for a couple of pence a go.

Funny how the risks change from generation to generation.

ancapailldorcha

dxhound2005 wrote: »

It's good to see that nobody has expressed any concern about the possible health risks to children. Because even though the internet is full such stuff it's probably totally exaggerated.

But try to put a phone mast or an electricty pylon within half a mile of their houses and there will be howls of protest about how their brains will be fried, and all the cancer clusters that will follow. Which is funny considering they get thousands of times more RF from the phone beside their ear than from any mast.

You're right, it is. At least if Cancer Research UK is to be taken as a credible source:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/cancercontroversies/mobilephones/mobile-phones-and-cancer

Sir Arthur Daley

Children should not get a phone of any description till they are 16.

Red6

Hi
I totally agree. Children do not need smartphones. Smartphones are too dangerous for children. My daughter has been asking for a smartphone for the last two years. Recently she told me that she is the only one in her class who doesn't have a smartphone which isn't true. When I asked her to name them, she got to about 6 out of a class of 30. I did buy her an ordinary mobile phone recently because she was going away from home for a day and I wanted her to be to able to contact us if she needed to. It is not a smartphone, just a standard mobile phone that she can make calls from or send text messages from. I really wish there was an age limit with smartphones because I believe smartphones shouldn't be for children. I am all for children learning about technology. My 11 year old got a tablet for Christmas and my 8 year old got a RTE player but the flow of information to and from smartphones for children isn't something that parents can monitor and control on a daily basis.

Geekness1234

I'm nowhere near being a parent, but is €40/€50 really that steep for an added means of communication and possibly tracking, in worst case scenarios?

asteroth

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

So, there's tons and tons of news stories nowadays pertaining to the dangers that smartphones pose to children and teenagers. I'm just wondering, wouldn't it be easier if parents didn't buy phones for their offspring? I see no reason why a child, especially someone under say, 15 should be allowed a phone. My folks refused to buy me one until I was 18 and, in hindsight, I think that that was the way to go.
What do ye think?

You can buy a phone for a tenner that includes 5 euro credit in most phone shops/internet cafes. Granted it's a cheapo piece of junk but it's a phone with your own number/sim and can be used to make calls and send sms.

IrishEyes19

I dont agree with children having iphones and fancy smart phones, but if I had a child they would have a mobile. I know they can be dangerous but Id be more fearful of not being able to contact them or worrying.

Sir Humphrey Appleby

WikiHow wrote: »

Children should not get a phone of any description till they are 16.

Yeah, lets keep them as isolated as possible from technology! Duh.

Hitchens

Sir Humphrey Appleby wrote: »

Yeah, lets keep them as isolated as possible from technology! Duh.

...and silly Americanisms?

Sir Humphrey Appleby

Hitchens wrote: »

...and silly Americanisms?

Wow, what an addition to the debate that contribution was!:rolleyes:

ShoulderChip

Stheno wrote: »

I have one mobile which is for work, and switch it off at weekends, I don't use apps unless it's the likes of currency converters when I am travelling, but during the week if I am out, I'll check my phone as I can get requests for calls etc up to 10pm each night.

There is a balance

What the hell is this? you are bragging about being a boring person?

Pro Hoc Vice

Red6 wrote: »

Hi
I totally agree. Children do not need smartphones. Smartphones are too dangerous for children. My daughter has been asking for a smartphone for the last two years. Recently she told me that she is the only one in her class who doesn't have a smartphone which isn't true. When I asked her to name them, she got to about 6 out of a class of 30. I did buy her an ordinary mobile phone recently because she was going away from home for a day and I wanted her to be to able to contact us if she needed to. It is not a smartphone, just a standard mobile phone that she can make calls from or send text messages from. I really wish there was an age limit with smartphones because I believe smartphones shouldn't be for children. I am all for children learning about technology. My 11 year old got a tablet for Christmas and my 8 year old got a RTE player but the flow of information to and from smartphones for children isn't something that parents can monitor and control on a daily basis.

It's very easy to monitor any persons activity on computer, tablet or smartphone. http://www.mobile-spy.com is just one example. Also smart phones can easily be restricted. The biggest problem is most parents will fear smartphones, but allow easy access to laptop's in private. Its simple don't fear new tech, explain it to children including the pitfalls. Like everything tech can have be good and bad.

Its funny I know parents who let their darlings on Facebook on the condition that they are friended and have passwords etc, but then don't know that their children are on twitter and more importantly on snapchat. Its important as a parent (speaking as a person who is not) to keep up with tech and what kids are currently into. Not giving them a smart phone only means they will use a friends one and you have no control then.

Lightbulb Sun

Red6 wrote: »

Hi
I totally agree. Children do not need smartphones. Smartphones are too dangerous for children. My daughter has been asking for a smartphone for the last two years. Recently she told me that she is the only one in her class who doesn't have a smartphone which isn't true. When I asked her to name them, she got to about 6 out of a class of 30. I did buy her an ordinary mobile phone recently because she was going away from home for a day and I wanted her to be to able to contact us if she needed to. It is not a smartphone, just a standard mobile phone that she can make calls from or send text messages from. I really wish there was an age limit with smartphones because I believe smartphones shouldn't be for children. I am all for children learning about technology. My 11 year old got a tablet for Christmas and my 8 year old got a RTE player but the flow of information to and from smartphones for children isn't something that parents can monitor and control on a daily basis.

What's the difference between the tablet and smartphone? They will both have the same flow of information. I presume you're referring to stuff on the internet you don't want your kids seeing.