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What with the low cost of cellphone service and the high cost of raising a child, I find it hard to believe that parents don't at least equip their child with a
by Klinky 13y ago
What with the low cost of cellphone service and the high cost of raising a child, I find it hard to believe that parents don't at least equip their child with a feature phone that allows voice and text. It allows you to:
A) Check in at will with your child.
B) Have them communicate if they missed a bus or are getting a ride home with a friend.
C) Tell you they messed up and are out after dark with friends on the wrong side of town and really need a ride home.
Those factors alone seem to outweigh the negatives to me.
As far as phones and school, it just sounds like cellphones are the new scourge being blamed for things the previous generation doesn't like or understand, just like music, RPGs, TV, and video games were.
Kids can be cruel, but calling the understanding of technology and social networking in the 21st century "stupid" seems shortsighted. Especially when parents/adults are some of the heaviest users of social media.
- epsylon 13y agoA) Well if he's smoking weed or drinking alcohol, he'll probably just won't answer your call or tell you to f* off. Kids, and teenagers especially will outright lie to you when confronted. B) Taking a ride with a friend? Have the friend's parent phone you. Missed a bus ? Take the next one. Parent's shouldn't worry about a kid being reasonably late. In any case, there are probably plenty of strangers willing to lend their phone for a quick call. (I'm assuming daytime and a non-dangerous situation here) This is exactly how I did when I was in high school. C) Well, again it's about responsibility from parents. You should know where your kid is. If you know your kid is going out for the night without adult supervision, just lend him a feature phone for that night, and take it back when he won't need it (for example, in school, where he is supposed to be under adult supervision). > As far as phones and school, it just sounds like cellphones are the new scourge being blamed for things the previous generation doesn't like or understand, just like music, RPGs, TV, and video games were. The difference is that I didn't play video games or watch TV while I was in class. I simply couldn't. But when you give children a screen that's available 24/24 and that they can bring with them anywhere, that's where (imho) the limit is crossed. > Especially when parents/adults are some of the heaviest users of social media. Well, the biggest consumers of porn are adults as well, but it doesn't mean that children should have access to it either.