Should you have a cell phone if you are 12 years old?

Question

I have a chocolate

Answer 1

I've had one since that age, and I'm 21 now, and it hasn't done me any harm that I'm aware of. It just allowed me to always keep in touch with my family and friends. At that age it was quite helpful if my parents were coming to pick me up somewhere, such as after school, and they were running late, they could call me, or I could call them, and no one would have to worry about what was going on.

Answer 2

You should only have a cell phone if you can afford it and the bills you create. In other words no. Why do children think they need a cell phone, so they can talk to their friend across the street while they walk home? As for emergencies, maybe. But then imagine how life was before the cell phone, Very few people had them and it never seemed that there were never any emergencies that could not be dealt with thru using a home or pay phone. As for that lame excuse that in case your parents need to get a hold of you at school, That is what the Administration staff is for. Parent calls school , school tells teacher , teacher gives you message without disrupting class. It`s been done like that for over 50 yrs

Answer 3

Hmm, I think the majority of 12 year olds are a little too irresponsible to have their own cell phone. If their parents think that they really need one, they should find a cheap one that will do the job; not the latest phone. A 12 year old might not use it correctly, or might run up the bill if they're given the opportunity to text or go online with their phone.

Perhaps when they graduate from the eighth grade, a cell phone could be given as a graduating gift to prove that the child is now trusted by their parents and mature enough to handle the phone correctly. For parents who are in no rush to give their child a cell phone, they could wait until the child has his or her own job so that they could pay for the plan themselves.

XOXO,
Laurie

Answer 4

Certain items or activities are restricted to minors due to their inherent hazard or detriment. Such restriction is established by law. For those things which are not restricted by law, individual families may still restrict them within the family itself.

Cell phones have no inherent hazard, other than those that are present in nearly any activity and, therefore, will not be restricted for minors under the law. Beyond that, it's up to the individual family to decide what age is appropriate.

As far as I'm concerned, if a parent decides it's okay, it's none of my business if a 4-year-old has a cell phone.

Answer 5

I think it all depends on the amount of responsibility the 12 year old has.

I got my cell phone when I was 11, but I was very responsible about it, and I never went over my minutes or anything.

Answer 6

I think this really depends on the situation. I would ask why the kid needs one. You don't need one if you are either with your parents or they always know exactly where you are. If, on the other hand, you walk home from school alone, are allowed to stay out in the neighborhood, etc. where you parents might not necessarily know where to find you, a cell. phone is a good idea.

Answer 7

It depends on whether you really need one or not. If you travel a lot and need to call people all the time, then yeah, you need one. If, however, you're going to sit on the couch all day and text people so much that your parents have to second mortgage their house to foot the bill, then no! I didn't get a cell phone until I was sixteen because I didn't really need one till then. But if you need one at 12, then hey, go for it.

Answer 8

Sure if it's a special cellphone. They now manufacture cellphones for kids with only 3 or 4 buttons. The phone is preprogrammed by the parents and the phone can only call home, emergency and maybe one or two other preprogrammed numbers.

That's the only thing a 12 y/o needs a cellphone is to call home, to have the parents call them or call the police if they're in trouble.

Answer 9

My son has had three since he was 10 now he's 12 and I think it's a good idea for kids to have them. Suggest pickup and go so you can control how much they talk and they don't cost you a whole lot. Some people don't have home phones so if your child is there you will be able to contact them.

Kids starting about 8 or 9 should have them for emergency

Answer 10

I don't have one, and I'm in ninth grade! But i think you should have a cell phone only if you plan on using it a lot. If you only us it to play games and call one person once a month, i don't understand why you would buy a cell phone.