Teens and Cell Phones

Rachel Campbell's article "Teenage Girls and Cellular Phones: Discourses of Independence, Safety and 'Rebellion'" got me thinking and made me want to do some of my own research. As an older sister to two teen girls (with a shared cell phone), I decided to call them up and ask some pertinent questions. Madison (15) and Paige (13) disclosed information to me that is remarkably similar to that of Campbell's.

Campbell explains, "In the case of teenage girls' use of cellular phones, I will argue that three central but conflicting, discourses are at play: the media discourse of technology consumption for image and fun; the parental discourse of the public sphere as a place of danger and threat; and the youth culture discourse of self-determination and sociability" (197). I saw this near exact response from my sisters (see questions below), and thought it was very interesting. Teens want independence and privacy, but they (and more so their parents) wish for the feeling of security that the cell phone grants them. Teens don't want to be around Mom and Dad 24/7, but they still want to remain connected with them just in case.



QUESTION AND ANSWER:
Q: Do you always tell the truth to Mom and Dad about where you are/who you are with if they call you on the cell phone?
A:
Madison: No, I don't want them to know that stuff.

Paige: No, I don't want to get into trouble.

Q: Do you ever NOT answer your cell phone on purpose because it's Mom or Dad calling?
A:
Paige: No, I always answer. Maddy usually answers too. I answer because I just want to know what they want.

Madison: I answer the first time because they won't keep calling back.

Q: Does having a cell phone make you feel safer?
A:
Paige: Yeah, if we get into trouble, we can call someone.

Q: You actually got your cell phone from our grandparents, right? Why did they want you to have one?
A:
Madison: Because they actually trust us.

Paige: They wanted us to be safe when we go out with our friends.

Q: Why don't mom and dad want you two to have a cell phone?
A:
Madison: They think we don't NEED one.

Paige: And that we're too young...

Q: Why do GIRLS like to have cell phones?
A:
Madison: Because it makes them look cool and rich.

Paige: So they can talk to friends.

Q: Why do BOYS like to have cell phones?
A:
Paige: So they can talk to girls!!!

Q: So you think it's different between boys and girls?
A:
Paige: Yes! Just because we like to talk to our friends, but these boys all wanna text us!

Q: Do you care if you waste minutes or text messages? Have you ever gotten into trouble for going over?
A:
Madison: We CARE, but we still do it. They just told us to stop... but we only went a little over, so we didn't get into big trouble or anything...


So from these answers, it is easy to see that having a cell phone is a status symbol, a security device, and a sign of trust (and yet privacy) between the parties involved. It is interesting though that trust is an issue among teens and parents in the cell phone debate. The teens want enough trust from their parents to actually own the cell phone, but when the teens are questioned by their parents about their use of it, they may not be telling the whole truth. Campbell talks about "the confession" (206), in that teen girls have to battle with their own conscience when they are called by their parents. Should they risk getting into trouble or just keep what they're doing a secret? In the battle for independence, this is a tough question for teens to answer.

An argument that is also present among parents is the fact that although the cell phone may be beneficial, it could also be an unnecessary, expensive 'extra' that their kids just want so they can be considered 'cool.' Although Campbell says that the cell phone is primarily used for socializing, it does help the teens develop a sense of responsibility. She talks about "the girl's willingness to confess" (206) and "assertions of independence" (206) which all lead to the process of growing up and becoming a responsible adult. I believe that both parties (the parents and the child) have to develop some responsibility when it comes to the cell phone. An article by Lucy Lazaroni entitled, "Buying a cell phone for your teen" discusses how parents should not just buy any cell phone and blindly hand it to their children. Primarily, she focuses on the benefits of pre-paid cell phones and has a reference to them in a quote as a "hard stop." Another article, by Jennifer Mulrean on MSN Money, talks about other options, including family plans and disposable phones. She says, "Fact is, the costs can be reasonable, but you have to dip into the details to make it work."

So is it appropriate for teens to have cell phones? I think it's up to the parent to decide!

For more interesting reading on how marketers are targeting the younger generation and the apparent 'need' for these kids to have cell phones, check out this article by Laura Petrecca called "Cell Phone Marketers Calling All Preteens."