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What's the right age to get a smartphone?
BBC.com ^ | 14th September 2022 | By Kelly Oakes

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 ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 200amonth; 2022; braincancer; cellphone; family; flipphone; landline; oldpeople; smartphone; socialmedia
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To: irishjuggler
Call us back when you actually have a teen in 2022 and let us know how that’s going.

Have one.

Doing fine, thank you.

Flip phone, no smart phone.

81 posted on 09/25/2022 6:24:00 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (The nation of france was named after a hedgehog... The hedgehog's name was Kevin... Don't ask)
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To: thecodont

145.


82 posted on 09/25/2022 6:24:55 PM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: gundog

“ Sadly, you may have to consider the demographics of some schools. A kid can get beat up for a phone.”

We would certainly consider that.

Again…

Stupid parents all give their kids cell phones

Creating lord of Tge flies.


83 posted on 09/25/2022 6:26:17 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Beowulf9

Walmart has them for $30 to $50 and it’s yours. No contract. My phone bill is $33 a month for unlimited everything and more data than I can use in a month.


84 posted on 09/25/2022 6:29:08 PM PDT by This_Dude
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To: conservative98

I had tracphone in the past, did not like how it worked. I don’t have a lot of need for a phone actually.


85 posted on 09/25/2022 6:40:34 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: thecodont

My wife forced me to get one at 73.

Though I use no “smart” features, she just wanted the imaging for Chinese virus quarantine shit.

It is lousy as a phone, what with all that poking at the damn thing.


86 posted on 09/25/2022 6:51:36 PM PDT by doorgunner69 (Let's go Brandon)
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To: deport

Believe it or not, back in the day I got my ‘56 nomad (arguably the more desirable of the 2 yr run), used but cherried out like that one for only $800. Running and beautiful like that one but candy apple red. It was stolen when I was about 19. Never saw it again, (sigh).


87 posted on 09/25/2022 6:51:41 PM PDT by Bullish (Rot'sa Ruck America. )
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To: SamAdams76

On weekends or during the summer, I would wake up, make myself cereal, get on my bike and disappear with my friends. As long as I was home by yhe time the street lights came on, nobody cared. That was like a 12+ hour stretch.


88 posted on 09/25/2022 6:54:26 PM PDT by Poison Pill
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To: Poison Pill

Same


89 posted on 09/25/2022 6:56:13 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Grampa Dave

Good to know though. Thank you. Nevr know maybe sometime in the future.


90 posted on 09/25/2022 7:13:41 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: thecodont

85


91 posted on 09/25/2022 7:17:41 PM PDT by US_MilitaryRules
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To: thecodont

That would be never as seen by TicToc abusers, but I will say having a cell phone, old Nokia type, in with a responsible high school kid is required. Getting a hold of the kid is important for parents and at least they can play snake.
Seriously, I have seen good and extremely bad usage with children in middle school so a minimum age is a hard standard.
It always comes back to the quality of the kid.


92 posted on 09/25/2022 7:23:03 PM PDT by Liaison (TANSTAAFL)
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To: thecodont
What's the right age to get a smartphone?

35.

93 posted on 09/25/2022 7:23:46 PM PDT by Jim Noble (And manly hearts to guard the fair)
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To: Beowulf9

The TracFone smartphones work like any other phone now. But your initial post was about how much you paying for your phones and how expensive smartphones are. I’m paying like $69 for the year. If you ever get tired of overpaying for service take another look at what’s out there


94 posted on 09/25/2022 7:25:31 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: SamAdams76

Nice I had a bike like the red one with the banana seat but in metallic green. Awesome bike and had baseball cards fluttering in the spokes.


95 posted on 09/25/2022 7:28:07 PM PDT by Liaison (TANSTAAFL)
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To: thecodont

why do they call it a smart phone, when so many dumbasses call me?


96 posted on 09/25/2022 7:43:26 PM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world or something )
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To: stanne

Even in my day without the internet boys would find porn. It’s kinda’ what boys do.


97 posted on 09/25/2022 7:43:45 PM PDT by Bullish (Rot'sa Ruck America. )
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To: thecodont

When we pay for ATM card.


98 posted on 09/25/2022 7:56:53 PM PDT by Mark (Celebrities... is there anything they do not know? Homer Simpson)
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To: thecodont

50 sounds about right to me.


99 posted on 09/25/2022 8:21:29 PM PDT by Sparticus (Primary the Tuesday group!)
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To: stanne

Good for you!


100 posted on 09/25/2022 8:22:09 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (What’s the point in drumming up anarchy if you don’t use it to promote tyranny. /BenLurkin 12/21)
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