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A child will not get shot or kidnapped for not having a cell phone, and those who will ostracize your child because of the technology they don't have don't dese

by kunai 13y ago

A child will not get shot or kidnapped for not having a cell phone, and those who will ostracize your child because of the technology they don't have don't deserve to be your kid's friend anyhow. One could say that there is an ostensible social and security risk in not having a cell phone compared to if one didn't have a cell phone, but the risk really is very low, and if that level of risk disturbs you, an el-cheapo prepaid phone with no minutes on it (just 911) will suffice. I think people forget that we lived not even as early as 5 years ago where smartphones were not considered a necessity. Kids did fine with basic or no cell phones at all. And before you pull the "Did you forget 7th grade" argument, I'm in high school. I only own an unactivated iPhone for development and testing, and really never call anyone.

jonahx 13y ago
> and those who will ostracize your child because of the technology they don't have don't deserve to be your kid's friend anyhow. yeah, but what if they're really cool and good-looking?
- Klinky 13y ago
  It does not have to be actual kids picking on another child, but the child can feel excluded. When I grew up my mom chronically destroyed the TVs we had because of content she didn't approve of. Sometimes we would be without a TV for years. Kids reactions to me not seeing a show because I didn't have a TV just made me feel like more of an outsider.
Klinky 13y ago
In the 90s there was a big fear of stranger danger, and that your child might get abducted, but maybe that was just pumped up scaremongering. It's much easier to coordinate with a child if they have a cellphone. You can send a text or call, or in a worst case scenario it could be used to triangulate a location. You have shunned having an active cellphone. That is your choice, which may not be representative of another kid's choice. I don't think parents should force a phone on to their child if the child doesn't want it.

by kunai 13y ago

jonahx 13y ago

> and those who will ostracize your child because of the technology they don't have don't deserve to be your kid's friend anyhow. yeah, but what if they're really cool and good-looking?

Klinky 13y ago
It does not have to be actual kids picking on another child, but the child can feel excluded. When I grew up my mom chronically destroyed the TVs we had because of content she didn't approve of. Sometimes we would be without a TV for years. Kids reactions to me not seeing a show because I didn't have a TV just made me feel like more of an outsider.

Klinky 13y ago

In the 90s there was a big fear of stranger danger, and that your child might get abducted, but maybe that was just pumped up scaremongering. It's much easier to coordinate with a child if they have a cellphone. You can send a text or call, or in a worst case scenario it could be used to triangulate a location. You have shunned having an active cellphone. That is your choice, which may not be representative of another kid's choice. I don't think parents should force a phone on to their child if the child doesn't want it.