Should teens get their own cell phone?

[RobCruz]

Should teens get their own cell phone? In the age when Columbine & 9/11 happened, parents without a doubt give their teens a cell phone so that they can keep in touch with each other or for emergency. On the other had, the critics argued that teens don't need cell phone because they will abuse it. Like talking on the cell phone while crossing down the street, gossiping to their friends, showing off the cell phone to their friends, and schools don't allow cell phone anyway? What do you think?

[Verse]

Just give them a plain looking prepaid phone. I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 20. =)

[714tmobile]

Prepaid...all the way. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I believe the cheapest prepay I've seen is T-Mobile's $10 a month plan... that's great for an emergency phone. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[LilScarface]

There's so much to say I don't feel like saying anything. Of course we should have cell phones and no we shouldn't be restricted to "plain prepaid phones." All I'm gonna say is pretty ignorant comments. You can't assume you know people's situations and what it could be needed (or wanted) for. Just cuz you don't understand somethin doesn't mean it should be altered to your desires.

[LilScarface]

*All I'm gonna say is (that's) pretty ignorant"

[letrain]

when i was in highschool they allowed cell phone, as long as it was not distracting in class, but you could use them between class and during lunch, most of my teachers liked this better so students would not ask to use thier telephones. the best thing may not be a cell phone, but i tihnk a plan with plenty of minutes, and then the child pays for his bill, if he goes over his minutes, he pays for that too, i think a pager is much better to keep a "leash" on a kid, and not give them the number, then you know they can't "abuse" it, and u know there is always a phone they can use no matter where they are, especially with pagers as cheap as they are now, and u can send text too, so u can still relay a message to ur child.

[ScandaLEX]

Upon reading this post, it wasnt hard to tell that it had come from a teenager. IMHO, teenagers should be restricted to pre-paid. On average. the numbers for teenagers who abuse their phones against the ones that dont are quite large.
Parents always want to "think" that the phone will only be used in emergency situations; it isnt unil after they recieve that first bill that they realize their little Billy or cute Sally has a LOT of friends.

To say that a teenager should pay their own bill is a bit crazy; if their parents want to provide them with a phone, then that said parent should pay the bill.

Originally posted by: LilScarface
There's so much to say I don't feel like saying anything. Of course we should have cell phones and no we shouldn't be restricted to "plain prepaid phones." All I'm gonna say is pretty ignorant comments. You can't assume you know people's situations and what it could be needed (or wanted) for. Just cuz you don't understand somethin doesn't mean it should be altered to your desires.

[LilScarface]

Man...no one is feelin me. It's not unheard of for teens to pay for their cell phones; I and many of my friends pay for our own bills. Even those who don't pay for their bills use the phones whenever they want..and not just in emergencies. Let me ask you this, you all have cell phones...how many of yall just use it for emergencies...If you know how to talk to your child then you should be able to build an understanding of how many mins can be used. It's not about "Billy" or "Sally" using the phone whenever they get stranded in nowhere...it's about having means of communication in generation where its possible to do so. Once again, I must say its not anyone's place to speak on something they don't understand..

[vrylucky13]

I wanted to say I agree with Holla. Im not really sure, because I just started reading this site, but it seems like most of the people updating here are middleaged working class people, who as teenagers, certainly didnt have cell phones. Im 16, and my parents bug me ALL THE TIME about talking on the phone too much, but they dont realize that its just the new mode of communication. Everyone now, not ONLY professionals, can communicate with anyone, at anytime. Now, imagine if you are a teen, what that means! You can call your friends any time, and they will be there. Now, I dont know about you, but thinking about a stereotypical teen, that seems pretty dreamy to me. But anyhow, I just want people to realize that its perfectly common for teens to use wireless phones. Who was the nokia 3360 made for?? lol.
anyhow, just wanted to say that.

~~Bil;