Kids with iphones!
@emelizabeth12 (46)
September 30, 2012 6:52pm CST
I have recently started to take notice whenever I see a child with an iphone. I currently have an iphone 3GS. I got it because my mom had an upgrade on her plan and she sort of passed it on to me. I don't have an upgrade on my line until December of this year so I've just sort of stuck with the older iphone. Today at the mall I must have passed six or seven 12-14 year olds who had an iphone 5! I'm shocked and not at the same time!? I wasn't allowed to have my first cellphone (a flip phone motorola thing that much resembles the phone in the icon for this interest group) until I was 16 years old and started driving. Even then I was only allowed to use it when I was driving and otherwise it stayed at the house! I feel like kids nowadays are almost expected to have some fancy cell phone. I'm not sure if that's a good thing: ie. kids are learning new and better technologies all the time and much faster than older folks...or if it's a bad thing: ie. these children are growing up so fast to start with that now on TOP OF all of that they're using technology that is becoming harder and harder to monitor. Thoughts for either side?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
1 Oct 12
Here's a shocker: there was a world BEFORE cell phones! Heck, I even remember when there wasn't even call waiting!
Children today are often spoiled. The only reason that my daughter was allowed to have a cell phone (at 14 or so) was because her father and I were divorced and he couldn't be trusted to keep the house phone on! And she had that phone for three YEARS until the battery melted in it! Her next phone kept breaking, so after about months of that, I decided to surprise her when our upgrades came due. I upgraded my own iPhone to the 4 because they were no longer going to carry 2G service, and since it was her birthday, I purchased a 3G (ran out of money for a second 4). She's 19 now, and is responsible for paying her own bill. My 47-year-old fiance finally got a 3G iPhone and he's so happy with it! We can't afford to upgrade my phone yet, so I'm dealing with a dying home-button in the meantime. Maybe for my birthday....
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
I hear you! It's gets so expensive for even upgrades cost some money these days! I too got my phone from my mom and at 23 I am still on her family plan but I am responsible for paying my bill. I think it would definitely be different if all kids were paying their own bills. At least that way they would maybe be more appreciative of what they have and how expensive it can be to keep those things running!
@GemmaR (8517)
•
1 Oct 12
I was 10 when I got my first mobile phone, and the only reason that I got that was because I had to walk home from school on my own and my parents decided that it would be a lot safer if I was able to get in touch with them whenever I needed to for some reason. I don't have children yet, but there is no way that I would let a child of mine of primary school age have an expensive mobile phone. You can get a cheap handset for £20 and I might get them one of these, but I would certainly not be giving them the top models.
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
I was in a similar situation. My parents wanted me to be safe. I agree that if it is for the child to contact the parents or for emergencies its a good idea. What I'm mostly concerned about is that they have these super expensive phones that do everything and like the above comments say, they are taking away that face to face element of making friends, talking to teachers, co-workers, etc! My first phone was a little cheap flip phone thing and I had it for probably 3 years before I was allowed to get something else! Worked fine, I didn't even have texting! Technology has progressed so far in such a short time but at what expense...
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
Most of them are coming from their parents I believe. Which isn't a bad thing, it just seems like it makes them less aware of what it costs and how expensive the things they NEED or think they need really are!
@redvakaurvaki (4216)
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
hi,emelizabeth, welcome to mylot...
as I remember I had my first cellphone when I was 15 years old. that tlpme, I don't think it's too late to have the cellphone because some of my friend still do not have cellphone yet. today everything is different. most of 10 years old kids have fancy cellphone on their hand. I know it's hi-tech era, but I don't think it's good for them. the classy cellphone is not suitable with the kids needs. agree that it makes them grow faster and harder to monitor, instead, they will be lazy at school
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
Thanks!
I definitely agree with you about the school aspect. Kids can use their phones to get answers, take pictures instead of taking notes and in doing so they are killing their own education. I think they will definitely suffer for that later in life as well! I know that 15/16 years old is a pretty normal time to have a cell phone because of being more independent and what not I just think it's crazy how fast kids are wanting cell phones and then getting them! My best friend didn't get her first cell phone until she was 20! She just didn't need one her parents said and so she didn't get one until she had a job where she could pay her own bill!
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
1 Oct 12
In my opinion, when very young kids were handed down these fancy and latest gadgets very easily, they will not learn of its true value. I remember when I had my first cellphone, a Nokia 5110i, I was in second year college and I have to work hard for it. My parents raised us by the principle that if tree's something that we want, we should work hard for it. We want a new phone? The garage and the car could use some cleaning. We want a raise in allowance? The dog will always need walking. We want new clothes? We can work during school breaks. This is because our parents want to teach us to value each and everything that we have. That we would take care of it and be responsible for it. An iPhone may be a harmless gadget in itself, but if used the wrong way it can ruin lives.
So now, I use the same principle my mom used on us to my younger siblings. They want an iPhone? Well I better not see any more C's in their report cards for the rest of the school year.
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
I agree! My parents were the same way! I had my first job when I was 15 working at a restaurant. When I started college I was working two different jobs and working on the weekends! I paid for things that I WANTED where my parents always took care of the things I NEEDED. I just think it's interesting nowadays how children think they NEED to have these fancy phones and they don't want to work for them or be responsible and careful with them! I've known kids who have had 2 or 3 iphones already because they've broken the last ones! My mom would have freaked out! We too were taught that if you want something you better work hard for it and take good care of it! Kids today don't really learn the value of money the way they used too. Thanks for the great input!
@Shanmoweiyun8132 (48)
• China
1 Oct 12
With the development of the society and technology,and the rhythm of upgrade is products is becoming more and more quickly.So it is common to see the phenomenon which many child with an iphone.But I think it do harm to the growth of child as these electronic products make them isolate and addictive.They spend much time on games,seldom say too much to others.
@emelizabeth12 (46)
•
1 Oct 12
Yes! I couldn't have said it better! They are spending so much time typing messages to one another they are not learning how to properly communicate in face to face situations. I know we are living in a very technology based world but we still need to be teaching the younger generations how to communicate the good old fashioned way...with words, face to face!
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
21 Dec 12
i never saw a kids with an iphone also ebcause i think this is an expensive gadget for parents i can't figure for kids as well!!I think this image is an exggeration so in many cases kids should get a different gadget or toys not an iphone or a pc because they are complex and in amny cases they will fail to use them wisely...
@pals101 (2010)
• Philippines
1 Oct 12
What do you expect in this generation??...
It's a computer/tech generation, its the new trend of today.. just like the old days, when the new trend as just nokia 3310 or 3210..hahhaa
i remember those days..i
I'm dying to have those cellphone models..but now it's of no use. There will come a days when iphone will not be useful or less demand.. 
It's a computer/tech generation, its the new trend of today.. just like the old days, when the new trend as just nokia 3310 or 3210..hahhaa i remember those days..i
I'm dying to have those cellphone models..but now it's of no use. There will come a days when iphone will not be useful or less demand.. 
@trisha27 (3494)
• United States
5 Jan 13
You know I don't think that kids that young should be having iphones I really agree with you. There is no reason for them to be carrying around an iphone. But with how today is and how technology is, I guess it is pretty much expected. In my opinion, I think that kids around that age, if you are going to give them a phone, they should have a simple flip phone and it should only be used for emergencies and stuff like that and that is it.
