Hey Everyone! Hope you’re doing well!
It is safe to say that my smartphone is a vital part my own life and cell phones in general and smartphones in particular are an important part of the lives of millions if not billions of people all across the world. As scary as it sounds for some people their phone have become a basic necessity just like air, food, and water.
I think that one of the great things about this technology boom is that many people of all social and economic backgrounds have access to some sort of a cell phone. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITC) there were 7 billion registered mobile subscriptions by the end of 2015.
However, the question that I have been pondering over is, what is the ideal age for someone to get their own phone?
The reason I have been thinking about this is because I have two teenage brothers one who is 16 and the other is turning 14 in June. My two brothers (especially the younger one) have really been wanting a cell phone for quite a while now.
More recently, their desire has really increased and finally my parents have agreed to purchase a smartphone for each of them.
My parents are honestly very firm but loving. In psychological terms they would be an ideal example of authoritative parenting. They decided that the time has finally arrived to make this dream of my brothers come true because the majority of their classmates and friends have their own smartphones and they did not want my brothers to feel too alienated.
Of course, this was one of many reasons why my parents made the decision. However, I think that this was the reason that convinced me the most. Just to give you guys some background I come from a hard working middle class family.
However, we live in a fairly affluent area where many of the families are upper middle class and based on my own observations, along with those of my family, the majority of the students at both of my brothers schools have their own smartphones.
This is why I agree that since it is something that is just so common in our area I feel that it is best that my brothers have their own phones as well especially since we are blessed that that my parents can afford to provide them with this privilege.
As you all know the teenage years are a time when people are especially influenced by their friends and peers and it can be especially easy to feel isolated when everyone around you has something that you do not.
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center 88 % of American teenagers (ages 13 to 17) have their own cell phones and 73% percent of them have smartphones.
Handing a smartphone to the hands of a teen can be risky however, I feel that establishing some firm rules can definitely be helpful.
In our case, my parents have written a full contract for each of my brothers and made them sign the contract. Any major violation of the contract could result in them losing their phone.
The contract contains the basic but important things such as promising to do their homework before playing on their phones, returning the phone to my parents each night at the set curfew, being respectful to others, etc.
I would really love to read your comments. What is your opinion on this issue? Do you think that there is an ideal age where an individual should be able to get a cell phone? Or does it depend on the person and/or situation?
I am looking forward to reading your thoughts!
With love,
Yasmin
A Bit Better 
Great topic! I believe that kids shouldn’t be exposed to cell phones too early without some level of responsibility and accountability.
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Thanks so much for commenting! I completely agree with you. 🙂 Both accountability and responsibility are so important especially with teens.
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Thank you so much! I really love your blog and I am looking forward to doing this tag!!!
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I didn’t get my first phone until I was about 10 and it was a £20 Nokia brick with Snake on it😂 But now my 6 month old brother (cheeky age gap) is already so interested in technology and it really worries me. Whenever I’m texting or tweeting he’ll stop playing with his toys and try and snatch my phone off me- I feel like bbs aren’t going to get a proper childhood (oops I sound so old) because they’ll be so exposed to things online? Or like you say, be isolated from their friends because their parents can’t afford them. But then I guess I was addicted to my tamagotchi and Club Penguin when I was little, so maybe phones are just a step up from that? Super interesting post b!
http://halfgirlhalfteacup.com
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Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your experience! I loved reading your comment and my brothers are also quite a few years younger than me 🙂 Just like you, I definitely worry about the future of these young kids and teens who are always busy with their gadgets. But I guess this is just the way it is now and we can only hope that it doesn’t do too much damage 🙂
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Personally I miss the days when my youngsters still had good, old-fashioned flip phones.
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Yes those flip phones were far less distracting !
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My daughter had her first phone as soon as she asked for one -about her 13s-. Her mom and I gave her much freedom to use it and did not ever spy her messaging or pics. We thought the more freedom she had, the better, and the truth is she has never become obsessed with playing or social networks. She even forgets the phone at home, some days, when she comes out, and then we scold them for it :)) She is now 22, drives her own car and travels abroad, so I would like her to be more dependent on her phone ! 🙂
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Wow this is so refreshing to read because I have mostly read about the opposite case in which kids become obsessed with their phones! But I think that you’re definitely wise for giving her freedom. Although I know that such freedom may not work for everyone I definitely think that it is something to consider! In my family my parents are well-intentioned but they were always trying to put restrictions on our screen time and I think these restrictions only further increased my younger brothers obsession with their phones!
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If you give freedom, show respect, and treat teenagers more and more like adults, they use to respond very well. I always tried to recall how I thought and felt as a kid and what kind of treatment would have worked best with me; so putting myself into my daughter’s skin. And, then, in the end, freedom is the most important thing in life, after life itself and, maybe, love.
Another, complementary reason: I’ve always strived to do my way (sometimes, breaking rules); and I’ve made many mistakes… (I still make them). My daughter saw it… so, how could I not be tolerant and permissive ? :))
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Very true and beautifully said!
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