Unlike many of my friends, I did not have a cell phone when I came to Saint Mary’s. It was a little embarrassing, actually. I had several boys ask me for my cell phone number at the illustrious DomerFest, only to have to break it to them that I did not own one. So second semester of my freshmen year when I finally owned my mobile friend, I was hooked.
I guess one question about cell phones that always kind of boggled my mind was that of how young is too young for a cell phone? One could argue the question, “What exactly is the difference between a 12-year-old being able to use the house phone and using a personal cell phone?” On the other hand, are we facilitating the individualization of
There are ways that cell phone companies and manufacturers are making it easier on parents’ high blood pressure levels to allow their young children to have cell phones. Here is an article about how cell phone companies are actually implementing a system that will allow mom and dad to limit the minutes that Susan and Billy’s cell phones will actually work (that’s one helluva dropped call…).
However, I cannot help but cock my head at this idea; kids with Razr’s and iPhones? I, at just over one month away from my twenty second birthday, have a hard time talking to boys in face-to-face situations. I resort to my cell phone, text messages, instant messenger, facebook, carrier pigeons, singing telegrams, anything to avoid talking to someone that owns a Y chromosome to his face. If I can’t do it, I’m sure little Susan and Billy have a hard time doing it. If we allow them to own cell phones, I feel that we will be assisting in the ever growing epidemic of awkward courting circumstances. Before we know it, we might be proclaiming our wedding vows via picture messages.
There is no right answer to the question I posed. I guess it’s all up to interpretation and the mentality of the child in question. I personally do not think that children under the age of thirteen should own a cell phone. I figure if they can watch a movie with limited amounts of creative four letters words and human anatomy, they are mature enough to avoid in person conversations with others. However, if you feel that cell phones would improve the quality of life of your future children, younger siblings, dog, whatever, you can check out this website.
-Jeney
1 comment:
I remember when I got my first cell phone. It was right after I got my drivers lisence. The reasoning of my parents was that a phone would be necessary if I was on the road by myself and something went wrong. Feeling instantly cool, I flaunted my cell phone to everyone because at that time, cell phones for kids werent that popular and I was one of the few in my class who had one.
Up until that point, all my calls were from my home phone were my parents could carefully monitar who I was talking to and how long I was talking to them. This might sound a little over bearing but it really wasnt. Looking back on it, I realize that it wasnt all bad not being connected to the world 24 7 and not being able to recieve call after call late at night. My social circle has grown now but for the first part of high school and down, I had just the right amount of accessiblity for a kid.
However, has society changes and technologies advance, maybe having a cell phone at age 10 is a good thing. Give the parents some peace of mind as to where they kids are and who they are with. But I do not want to see the cell phone acessiblity become a virtual babysitter for parents. Knowing you can always get in touch with your children by giving them a cell phone should not be an excuse to no longer physically and actively keep track of your child.
This is an interesting arguement, everyone's circumstances are different. I just dont want to see kids become 'grown ups' to fast. There is still something to going to your friends door to see if they can come out to play instead of sending the request via text message....
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