[Kerry]

At what age would you say it's acceptable for a child to have a mobile phone?


Personally, I let my daughter have one at 11 as she was moving upto secondry school. For one - safety and two - not being bullied for not having one. But obviously there are drawbacks too. Not having the right phone or the risk of getting it snatched.

Thoughts?

My bro in law gave my nephew a phone when he was about 5 which I thought was just silly

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

my neice is 7 and she has a phone

[Kerry]

Actually, I have to mention the other side of the scale. Anyone else have a little chuckle when they see elderly folk sat sending texts? It always makes me smile

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

yes

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scott

yes

I can never hide it. I'll be sat there on the tram and some old dear is sat texting What I'd give to see what they write

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

my mum got an answering machine from her friend the other week and it was like

'hello, can you hear me, oh how do i work this bloody thing'

[Iceman]

My nephews both got phones 2 years ago when they were 9, very basic nokia phones no camera or nothing and only had family an a few friends on them. Now that they're 11 they have better phones than me

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scott

my mum got an answering machine from her friend the other week and it was like

'hello, can you hear me, oh how do i work this bloody thing'

Reminds me of a few Peter Kay jokes

[Lee.]

Hahah.. The first time my mum had a mobile,she phoned me to ask how to do a space when sending a text.. I told her I wasn't sure but my phone was the 0 button. Next thing I knew I got a text message like this; hello0lee0this0is0my0new0number0lots0of0love0mum.

On topic though, I think secondary school is an acceptable age for a mobile. Any younger is just silly.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Iceman

My nephews both got phones 2 years ago when they were 9, very basic nokia phones no camera or nothing and only had family an a few friends on them. Now that they're 11 they have better phones than me

I get my daughters reject phones Mind you I don't want her new one. It's a touch screen thing and when I had a go with it...... well it wasn't pretty....

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by happyland

Hahah.. The first time my mum had a mobile,she phoned me to ask how to do a space when sending a text.. I told her I wasn't sure but my phone was the 0 button. Next thing I knew I got a text message like this; hello0lee0this0is0my0new0number0lots0of0love0mum.

[KG.]

Originally Posted by Scott

my mum got an answering machine from her friend the other week and it was like

'hello, can you hear me, oh how do i work this bloody thing'

Originally Posted by happyland

Hahah.. The first time my mum had a mobile,she phoned me to ask how to do a space when sending a text.. I told her I wasn't sure but my phone was the 0 button. Next thing I knew I got a text message like this; hello0lee0this0is0my0new0number0lots0of0love0mum.

On topic though, I think secondary school is an acceptable age for a mobile. Any younger is just silly.

I think when kids start 'playing out' as in going out for a significant amount of time, and away from your house/road is the right time for a mobile phone.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by KG.

I think when kids start 'playing out' as in going out for a significant amount of time, and away from your house/road is the right time for a mobile phone.

Yes, I agree with this actually. Be handy just to be able to send a quick text if they're going to be a few minutes past their curfew to save the worrying !

[Maia]

I got my first phone when I was 10 - I think any younger than 9 is too young; probably around 10/11 years old is fine.

[Stacey.]

I got mine when I was 10.. only then cus all my friends were getting them at that age too. About that age is right I think

[Zippy]

Never get them a flash one or you are making them a target for muggers. And tell them to use it discreetly and not flaunt it around.

Of course, a lot depends on what area you live in.

[Stephanie]

i got a nokia 3410 when i was about 8/9.

[Jordan.]

Id say around 11 is right. I hate little kids who have mobiles for the sake of it and don't even know how to use them.

[InOne]

Got my first when I was 9. It was 1999 so it was a brick lol

[Niamh.]

I got my daughter a phone last year when she was 9. She doesn't use that much, she uses it mainly to text and speak to her dad (we're not together)

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by InOne

Got my first when I was 9. It was 1999 so it was a brick lol

I was 21 when I got my first phone

[Jack_]

I was 9 when I got mine, was around the right age I think. I'd probably say the right age is when their friends are getting one, and so that'll vary from person to person...

[Vicky.]

Erm, Gavs 7 yr old son has a phone...we got him it for xmas. Its only really for ringing us and his granparents though because hes always asking his mum if he can speak to us and she says 'no the phonebill will be huge' and then he gets upset. So we got him a phone and shes not amused but its tough to be honest, he should always be able to speak to his dad/grandparents IMO if he wants to.


As for old people with phones, I find it hilarious. I spent 2 months trying to teach my grandma to text, she kinda got it, but you would get one text saying 'hi' and then 5 blank ones with it

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I was 21 when I got my first phone

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Scott

no one had mobile phones when I was a teenager not even adults