Posted on 09/25/2022 5:23:02 PM PDT by thecodont
It is a very modern dilemma. Should you hand your child a smartphone, or keep them away from the devices as long as possible?
As a parent, you'd be forgiven for thinking of a smartphone as a sort of Pandora's box with the ability to unleash all the world's evils on your child's wholesome life. The bewildering array of headlines relating to the possible impact of children's phone and social media use are enough to make anyone want to opt out. Apparently, even celebrities are not immune to this modern parenting problem: Madonna has said that she regretted giving her older children phones at age 13, and wouldn't do it again.
On the other hand, you probably have a phone yourself that you consider an essential tool for daily life – from emails and online shopping, to video calls and family photo albums. And if your child's classmates and friends are all getting phones, won't they miss out without one?
There are still many unanswered questions on the long-term effects of smartphones and social media on children and teenagers, but existing research provides some evidence on their main risks and benefits.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
18
I don’t know why this never comes up with smartphones but they are doggone expensive. I don’t have one. I have a landline and it’s 30 dollars a month. I have a flip phone that is 30/mo as well, I use the net when I’m home is all. Aren’t smartphone prices like up close to 200/mo? or something?
Old enough for them to work and pay for their own cellphone bill. And they must surrender their phone at parents’ request and inspection until they’re 18.
Same as smoking and the draft
What’s the mystery?
Adulthood
18
Old enough for them to have learned to socialize face to face.
When they can pay for it themselves.
Otherwise, kids should not have more than a flip phone to call their parents and friends.
I would say that the actual right age is when they can show the maturity to not rely on the phone for social interactions. It’s a tool and nothing more.
If under 16, give them flip phones with the ability to only connect with family and 911 - for emergencies. Block internet.
When they have a job and a driver license. They can buy their own.
And if all their friends were taking a flying leap off a bridge....
Well, I just recently bought a Samsung. One of the pre-loaded apps was Samsung TV (I believe). After clicking to see what it was, a preview movie was playing on top and it was a scantily clad couple with the guy performing oral sex on a lady.
Think about age and a smart phone with stuff like that in mind. And btw, I immediately deleted that app.
The day I turned 18 (50+ years ago), my stepfather told me I could have a beer anytime I was in the house. He was from the Great Depression/WWII generation, you were an adult when you reached the age of 18.
My wife disagrees with that, and my two sons haven't earned that right as I did. I earned it by getting good grades, working, and staying out of trouble. They stayed out of trouble, but their work ethic was on par with today's generation.
We were poor and my friends had LOTS of stuff I didn”t I survied.
Giving a child a device that can do more than call mom and dad is child abuse.
I go with 18
Possibly to soon be issued at birth by order of The World Order.
What’s the right age to get a smartphone?
75+ But I recognize that many people walk, drive,
etc looking at the Smarty.
Ask your phone.
“Aren’t smartphone prices like up close to 200/mo? or something?”
The devices on the Verizon site are from $250 to $1900. Now you can get plans for about $30/mo per device if you use autopay. We pay $120/mo. for unlimited everything.
I don’t know about monthly cost for a device ‘cause we paid cash.
18 but not above 90 in many cases.
When you get a paying job to afford the purchase and upkeep.
Students rank those without phones & social media as outsiders. It is interacted with schools’ use of chromebooks to ensure socialist uniformity of thought. Students themselves run the social media hierarchy. Brooking no dissent from rigid conformity of brave rebellious rugged individualists marching in fashion dictated lockstep. The system was 1st perfected in the 1800s in Germany, 1 in 200 students the group Alpha a la Brave New World, 6 in 200 the Beta administrators, the lower classes fighting it out in fear of the elite kids & loathing of the dumb ones. All the World’s psychokogy dept chairmen studied under Pavlov’s behaviorist teacher Wilhelm Wundt. They spawned the miseducation racket worldwide. School abuse works in tandem with social media brainwashing.
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