15 year olds and smartphones... what are your feelings towards it?

[Insidious]

Hi everybody, I want to see what everyone thinks of a 15 year old like me having a smartphone. My parents have been constantly scolded by friends saying I don't need that, and ill get into trouble. But I can't imagine life without Android! Im not a no life nerd but its a little hobby I've picked up and my parents don't get it. So what im asking is what is your take on it? Im generally pretty resoponsible and the only unorthodox thing I do to my phone it root and rom. Post your opinions! :J

Sent from my Droid Bionic!

 

[tommyg562000]

Just as long as ur not on it 100% of the time, fake listening when someone is trying to talk with u, then I think its cool. I think pretty much everybody should have a smartphone in this age. I get people always asking me to search something and I tell them to get an android or iphone and they say they don't need it.

Sent from my Droid using DroidForums

 

[FernBch]

As long as your responsible with it I see no issues. You don't want to be one of those kids who got in trouble because of porn or arrested because of "inappropriate" picture messaging. You are under 18 and legal-wise someone else could be held liable with a good attorney.

My DroidX thrives on the the DarkSlide!!

 

[Insidious]

Thanks guys! Haha, yeah im on it a fair amount of time but not constantly. Usually if I'm using it alot its for a specific reason like installing a new rom or learning something new.

Sent from my Droid Bionic!

 

[CTownDroid]

My 14 year old son has one, and we've had no issues with him having one. It's actually come in handy in a few different situations. For instance, we were in Michigan for a hockey tournament, and he wanted to go with his friends in another vehicle to a game. Well they left 10 minutes before us and they weren't there when we got there. Long story short, ladies GPS had seized up the day before, she thought she knew how to get to the rink and didn't. He google searched the rink and they were headed the opposite direction. Handed the phone to the passenger and safely made it to the rink.

 

[DroidXDoes4G]

Everyone should have a smartphone.
What if you get lost? GPS to the rescue.

 

[Charles2011]

I think all kids should start to get into the tech stuff, specially a 15 yr old, it is only going to get better and faster and they will need to know more about tech then parents and grandparents every had to. Every thing is tech these days, with that said they just just need an overseer so to speak to make sure they are not getting into trouble with it. It doesn't need to be a parent if they are not techie, as long as it is some one who will report to the parent if things start to go wrong.

 

[DroidXDoes4G]

I think all kids should start to get into the tech stuff, specially a 15 yr old, it is only going to get better and faster and they will need to know more about tech then parents and grandparents every had to. Every thing is tech these days, with that said they just just need an overseer so to speak to make sure they are not getting into trouble with it. It doesn't need to be a parent if they are not techie, as long as it is some one who will report to the parent if things start to go wrong.

Yep. Everything is tech now...
Even schools will eventually be online only...

 

[TisMyDroid]

As a mom of 3 boys who are now young adults, these things came up all the time. I admit things are a little different now. When they were younger I had one phone for them to use if I needed them to, otherwise the phone stayed with me.

My youngest actually had his own cell phone while he was still in high school. He just graduated and now in college.

The most important things to a parent is safety and education. My phone rules for him were that he had to keep it off while in school and could only turn it on during his lunch break. I would check this on occasion by calling to make sure it was off (goes directly to voice mail when off).

When he got his license, he had to keep his phone in the glove box on vibrate while driving so that he was not paying attention to who was calling or texting. Again I would check this on occasion by calling as well as using his own friends phones to call (his friends practically lived at our house so it was easy and they understood the rules).

If he wanted a smart phone, I would have made him pay the $30 data fee, either by doing extra chores or by cash (it is actually what he has to do now).

If he was still in high school, I would also limit the amount of time he could spend "playing" on it to ten hours a week. (My kids had a media limit to ten hours a week b/c I think time is better spent away from tv, video games and computer).

I would make sure he knew that I would check the content on his phone as I did on the puter, mainly b/c there are very devious people out there that lure children and teens.

He would also have to understand that misuse of these privileges would mean that I took the phone away or suspended service without argument. Arguing means there will be more time away from phone.

I think if you were to present these agreements to your parents they would agree to you having an android phone and feel comfortable doing so.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using DroidForums

 

[sslbaron]

We just got our 16 and 17 year old smartphones. This is something that we have been pushing off for a while now, but now that they both have jobs and can pay for their own lines, we let them go with them. So far they have had them for about 2 months now, and we haven't had any issues yet with the smartphone usage. Another reason we decided to let them take the plunge was the fact that Verizon was dropping the unlimited data. If we had to go with a metered data plan, then they would not be having the data option.

Thank you goes to all the input which goes into the Droidforums. If it wasn't for all the wonderful people providing their input, we would have never know about Verizon's decision to drop the unlimited data plan. It was funny because I called Verizon right before the 4th of July and asked about the dropping of the unlimited data, and the Verizon rep danced all around it. You could tell that she didn't want to get in trouble for saying anything about it. I don't like when companies lie or don't give you any answers even when you come out and directly ask them especially when it effects a future buying decision...sorry I'll stop now! I just needed to get this off my chest. lol

Back to the topic at hand, I think if you are responsible and not using when your not supposed to be (ex: during class, bedtime, etc) or for inapropriate stuff, then I think it is ok. I believe these are the new cell phones, and the dumb phones are useless now with all the new technology.

 

[DC 1127]

Im 15 and i love my phone! My family is always talking junk to me because i stay on it all the time but i just love it! I think that 15 is the age when everyone really wants a smart phone. It lets you stay in touch with the things you care about. I got my OG droid when it came out then got my D2 when it came out and Id like to think i know a good bit about smart phones for my age.

D2 Liberty GB .9 Juiced

 

[brad92]

I think if the kid is responsible about it and not spoiled, its OK. Things have definitely changed though. I'm 19 and the only reason I got my first cell phone was because I was 16 and driving. I actually got it because I was going out of town.

Now you have people giving their kids phones when the kids are 5 years old (like my old neighbors). Cell phones really aren't needed like people think they are. They're nice to have, but back when I was younger, I can remember when only a couple kids at my school had phones; we got along OK.

Again, if there is a need for it and the kids are responsible, I say yes. But I don't think it is a right for every 10 year old to have a smartphone or even a phone at all. I work hard and pay for my own stuff. I know the value of a dollar.

sent from my ApeX

 

[bplewis24]

I fully agree with the people scolding your parents.

But, hey, it's their parenting style. They either raised you responsibly enough to allow you to do it, or they didn't and will suffer the consequences.

Brandon

 

[FernBch]

Very well stated, sslbaron. We gave our kids phones when they were 15. Our daughter has not had a problem, but our son was another story. Sexting, inappropriate pictures, and other things a 16 year old shouldn't be doing. We warned him, handed out discipline, and he challenged us. It got to the point where he tried to "tell" us how it would be. It stopped when his line was suspended for a while. When he got it back, some features were disabled and he is not getting them back until he can pay for his own plan. He also understands that the plan is in our name and he will follow the rules or it can be turned off again without warning. Haven't had one problem since.

My DroidX thrives on the the DarkSlide!!

 

[TisMyDroid]

Very well stated, sslbaron. We gave our kids phones when they were 15. Our daughter has not had a problem, but our son was another story. Sexting, inappropriate pictures, and other things a 16 year old shouldn't be doing. We warned him, handed out discipline, and he challenged us. It got to the point where he tried to "tell" us how it would be. It stopped when his line was suspended for a while. When he got it back, some features were disabled and he is not getting them back until he can pay for his own plan. He also understands that the plan is in our name and he will follow the rules or it can be turned off again without warning. Haven't had one problem since.

My DroidX thrives on the the DarkSlide!!

Yes, right on target! Two of my sons are very responsible, one not so responsible. If I am paying for the service, then my rules apply. I have all special features turned off on the one who has problems and have had to suspend service before as well. The rules for my kids are in direct relation to their past history... Respect and responsibility begets respect and responsibility and it is earned by your attitude and actions. When you've lost it, it is a lot harder to earn it back.

Bottom line, not all children are the same, even in the same household, and sometimes rules have to apply differently. Privileges are earned not handed out freely. But it is up to the parents to know their children, guide their children and follow through!

Sent from my SCH-I510 using DroidForums