What age for a cell phone?

[Zach O]

When my son started after school activities.

[Zundfolge]

We don't have kids (nor cell phones) so you can feel free to dismiss this as simple curmudgeonism if you like, but frankly I think a kid should get their first cell phone when they're old enough to sign the contract and buy their own damn phone.

[spqrzilla]

Get 'em a flip phone. Voice calls and texts. Nothing else until they can pay for it themselves. Seriously, there is much evil involving kids and smart phones.

[sniper7]

Most people, especially teachers can attest to the problems they can create in and out of school. A phone is perfectly fine to have, but with much caution as texting, pictures, sharing numbers with every kid etc can all turn ugly fast. Rumors are a simple group text away, serious distractions are in your pocket all the time, and stupid pictures or video are just a click away.

[tmleadr03]

My daughter is 6. She has already started to ask when she can get a phone. My answer is the same for all her other "can you buy me x" questions. You want that? Then you should get a job a buy it yourself. Her mom is spending money on her at the drop of a hat when she is with her so she constantly gets something new when she goes somewhere. Not with me.

[buffalobo]

Some good advice above. Our kids got cell phones when they no longer had to abide by house rules.

Full disclosure - my kids are older than many members on this forum, cell phones where not yet common when they were still in high school.

[cstone]

When she started walking to school outside of the neighborhood at 15. She got one of the older phones which is good for talking and some basic texting. All of my kids are told and frequently reminded that if I am paying for it, I reserve the right to review any content. This includes, email, text, Facebook, and anything else that they may get involved in on-line. Don't like it? Hand it back and you can do what you want when you leave the house and pay your own bills.

[th3w01f]

Thanks everyone and there is some good advice here. I already have the phone so there isn't much of an issue there and she would be paying for the service. I look at social media training similar to firearms training, they have to understand the power and the danger if not used properly. She understands that we watch everything, in fact I capture every packet in and out of the house and have for years. I know I can't do the same with cellular but her misusing it isn't a major issue for us.

[ruthabagah]

6th grade. Just because there is no after school program offer and we both work and couldn't pick them up. Kids got my beat up old iphone, so that I could track them using "Find My Iphone" and control what messages they would send and receive. Never had a problem with overage or any texting issues. If they start messing with me or give me attitude I just lock their phone remotely! If they are not home, and I see that they are at a friend house, I just start the "find my Iphone" function and it beep so loud they can't ignore it!

Worked for us.

[blackford76]

Mine was like those first razor phones that came out

That is what I'm still using!