When parents decide to buy their children a cell phone, they have practically handed over to them an endless, important and dangerous source of information, always if it is not controlled. Such a decision is debatable as a minimum age has not yet been accepted for the period when children should have their own personal telephone.
Common Sense Media, an organization that promotes technology and safe media for children, founded by James Pearson Steyer, a civil rights lawyer, professor and author who makes various assessments based on the age of the children, writes that there is not a proper age to buy kids a cell phone, but there are other important factors.
Sommon Sense Media emphasizes that age is not as important as a child's level of maturity, ability to follow home and school rules, and a sense of responsibility.
"Buying a phone is a very personal and individual decision, but many children start looking for (and getting) it in elementary school. This kind of pressure from peers makes it harder for parents who want to delay access to the phone. When you give your kids cell phones, you are giving them powerful communication and media tools. They can create texts, images and videos that can be widely distributed and uploaded to websites instantly. "Parents really need to consider whether their children are willing to use their phones responsibly and respectfully."
Factors to consider are:
1. Do children show a sense of responsibility? So do they let you know when they leave home? Do they appear on the schedule that they say will come? Do they follow family and school rules?
2. Do they tend to lose things?
3. Do they need a cell phone for security reasons?
4. Do you think they will use the mobile phone responsibly? For example, would they send messages during class?
5. Do they agree to have a set schedule of mobile use? Do you agree to talk about the apps you will download?
6. Do they agree not to keep it in the bedroom when lying down to sleep in the evening?
7. Will they use it for valuable purposes and not to harass others?
