# data[].attributes.body
C. This picture was posted on April 30, 2015.
R. This relates to my topic by showing that people that have a phone shouldn't be on it all the time.
A. This picture was published by Jacob Andrews.
A. This relates to my claim by showing that teenagers should have a phone but, not to act like the kid in the picture.
P. The purpose of this picture is to show that teenagers should have a phone when the are 14-16, but they shouldn't act addicted to the phone.

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C. This picture was published on March 3, 2019.
R. This relates to my topic by showing that kids at a young age shouldn't have a phone because it will ruin there life style.
A. The publisher of this picture is Steve Nease.
A.This supports my claim by showing that kids at a young age that have a phone can ruin there life style.
P. The purpose of this picture is to how that kids at a young age that have a phone might ruin how they live.

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He wasn't the first governor in the country to lift the mask mandate for his state. North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have ended state-wide mask orders in recent weeks and progressive states like Florida and South Dakota never issued them in the fi ...

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He wasn't the first governor in the country to lift the mask mandate for his state. North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have ended state-wide mask orders in recent weeks and progressive states like Florida and South Dakota never issued them in the fi ...

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C. This picture was created in 2014.
R. This picture relates to my topic by showing kids at a young age shouldn't have a phone yet because they will ruin talking to people.
A. The publisher is speedbump.com.
A. this supports my claim by showing that kids at a young age really can't have a phone because they will ruin conversations person to person.
P. The purpose of this picture is to show that young children shouldn't have a phone they should be using there social skills instead of using a phone.

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"Hold that thought," your best friend states as he pushes his nose closer to the IPhone in his hand. Even ten years ago such behavior would have been considered rude, but today it's an everyday occurrence.

But while technology may technically be 'connecting' people all over the globe, to what extent is it also separating individuals from having true, present communication with each other? This conundrum is a focus many cartoon artists have sought to bring attention to through illustration.

Whether at a coffee shop where patrons are more interested in their laptops than conversation, or at a family get-together where everyone has to check their cell-phones every 15 minutes, there is no doubt it is becoming an exception - not the norm - to be able to hold conversation for an extended period of time.

Of course technology has improved all of our lives for the better, but the questions that now beg to be asked are " how much is too much?", and " what are we going to do about it?"...

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What are your thoughts on these comics? Share in the comments section below!

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These 30+ Cartoons Illustrate How Smartphones Are The Death Of Conversation - True Activist

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"Hold that thought," your best friend states as he pushes his nose closer to the IPhone in his hand. Even ten years ago such behavior would have been considered rude, but today it's an everyday occurrence. But while technology may technically be 'connecting' people all over the globe, to what extent is it also separating individuals from having true, present communication with each other?

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C. This picture was posted on Friday June 22, 2018
R. This relates to my topic by showing that kids should have a phone when they are about a teenager
A. The source of this picture is Common Sense Media.
A. This supports my claim because it is saying that kid close to a teenager should get there phone when they are about a teenager.
p. The purpose of this picture is to show that kids about to trun a teen ager should have a phone.

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What's the average age when kids get a social media account? | CNN

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About 56% of US youth have their own social media accounts, according to Common Sense Media. The average age when signing up for an account was 12.6 years.

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C. This picture was published on September 16, 2011 at 12:51 PM.
R. This relates to my topic because it shows what most people think kids should get a smart phone 13-15
A. This picture is by Jeremy Olson.
A. This supports my claim by saying kids should get there first phone when they are a teenager.
P. The purpose of this is to show that most parents think kids should have there first phone when they are 13-15 years old.

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New survey data offers insight on this question, which many families of the tech era now confront.

More and more, as I shuttle kids to soccer practice or trumpet lessons or chess club or playdates or whatever, I am finding moments when I wish that my 10-year-old (heck, even my 8-year-old) had a cell phone. The tech geek devil on one shoulder tells me to get them one, but the parenting angel on the other shoulder says it is too soon, and that a phone will raise more problems than it will solve. My kids have done their own market research, of course, and swear that 110 percent of their friends already have phones.

In the face of such persuasion tactics, I welcomed new survey data from Verizon Wireless, which queried 519 parents with kids ages 6 to 17:

I was surprised -- given the current U.S. economy and unemployment rate -- that four in 10 kids 12 and younger from surveyed households had wireless phones. The survey also asked parents about ground rules, and found the number one rule to be that kids with their own cell phones had to answer when their moms or dads called. Verizon Wireless also provided support to parents on how to manage their kids' phones and tips on how to set the parental controls on those phones.

Keep in mind that all of this information comes from a publicly traded company that has a primary goal of selling wireless phones and related devices. Even with the parenting tips, the survey smacks of marketing and weakening the resolve of parents who think cell phones for kids is a bad idea.
Parents, what do you think? When are kids old enough for cell phones? What ground rules do you/will you set? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

I'll admit, in all of my efforts to ignore the Royal Baby hoopla, I did notice a picture of the young prince in his car seat and thought, "Gee, doesn't the strap on that car seat look a little loose?!" I passed it off as either a British thing, or the faded memory of a dad whose kids are a decade removed from infant car seats.

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When are kids old enough for cell phones?

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New survey data offers insight on this question, which many families of the tech era now confront. More and more, as I shuttle kids to soccer practice or trumpet lessons or chess club or playdates or whatever, I am finding moments when I wish that my 10-year-old (heck, even my 8-year-old) had a cell phone.

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C. The Article Not All Kids have Computers it was published in 2018.
R. This article is the opposite of my topic it shows that not all kids have computers/ electronics and it is showing that they should have it for school.
A. The publisher is Polikoff M. Saavedra.
A. This article is against my claim because it is saying that any age kid should have a computer for school.
P. The reason for this article is to show that other people think that kids should have a phone early on.

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Not all kids have computers - and they're being left behind with schools closed by the coronavirus | The Conversation: An Independent Source of Analysis from Academic Researchers - Credo Reference

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C. This article was posted on Thursday January 21, 2021 at 9:02 PM.
R. This relates to my topic because it shows that teens should have there first phone and that they should limit there time.
A.This is published by Edwina Seselja.
A. This relates to my claim because it says that teens should have a phone and that they should limit it to.
P. The purpose of this article is to show that kids should limit there time on the phone.

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School students across Queensland are set to return to the classroom next Wednesday and many will do so with a mobile phone.

Consider whether your child is mature enough to have a phone and whether or not a smartphone is right for them

Take the opportunity to talk to your child about phone safety and what not to share online

Set parental controls on the phone and establish boundaries around usage

Safety is one of the reasons why parents are equipping their young children with mobiles, but often the devices come with their own risks.

These cyber safety experts have a couple of tips and warnings for parents with kids who have, or are about to have a mobile phone.

When do you get your child a phone?

It depends on the child, according to Sharon Trotter, executive manager of education and prevention at eSafety.

"There are really no hard and fast rules for when the right time is to give your child a mobile phone," she said.

Ms Trotter encouraged parents to think about their child's maturity level.

"Do they have a good sense of responsibility? Are they able to stick to the rules that you will set for them?

"Will they come to you if they encounter something they're not sure about or if they're distressed?"

Tricia Munn, the managing director of Eyes Open Social Media Safety, recommends to "hold off as long as you can".

Experts recommend setting up the phone with your child.(Supplied: Katerina Holmes)

Choosing the phone

Ms Munn said she often heard from parents who were thinking of getting their child a phone that did not connect to the internet, but she warned that this approach had its shortfalls.

"My personal opinion is that if we are getting a child a phone for safety, the fact is that if they are unsafe, they are actually not going to be able to make a phone call or text so we want that location option on there," Ms Munn said.

"I would actually be going for a smartphone because you can dumb them down and make sure their locations are being shared with you and make sure the emergency contact information is up to date.

"There's that SOS call that can send out their location to their contacts."

However, Ms Trotter said phones that did not connect to the internet could be right for some kids.

"It may be that ... your child is very young and you don't want to give them a smartphone because basically they've got access to the internet in their pocket," Ms Trotter said.

"You might just want them to have a phone that will allow them to contact you via text or via call."

Is banning mobile phones in schools a good idea?

There is overwhelming support for banning phones from classrooms but there are many reasons to be cautious about it. Previous experience suggests a blanket ban might introduce more problems than it hopes to solve.

Set up an account for your child

Ms Munn also suggested setting up a separate account for your child.

"The biggest mistake I see is when parents sign in as themselves, which limits the opportunity for parental control and may also give the child access to adult content," she said.

"Set up an account for them."

Ms Munn said creating an account for your child was an ideal time to teach them about what information was not appropriate to put online.

"A big mistake I see regularly is putting the child's middle name [online], which is the answer to a security question," she said.

"Often they'll use the year that the child's born in the email.

"That's all private information that shouldn't be shared online."

Ms Trotter said parents should avoid including a surname where possible and be aware of who might be able to see your posts.

"[Avoid posting] things like street addresses, any identifying photos that might identify what school your child goes to or where they live.

"Make sure they [your children] know the limits, if they are on social media, of not accepting friend requests of people they don't know."

COVID has changed the advice around screen time

We've been told to enforce strict limits on screen time for kids. But as coronavirus sweeps the globe, that advice has changed.

Set parental controls

Both Ms Trotter and Ms Munn recommended setting parental controls such as those that let you limit screen time or control which apps your child can download.

"Make sure you know what your child is doing, whether they're on a phone or any other kind of screen," Ms Trotter said.

"They should have all their apps set to the highest privacy settings that they can."

She also said to disable in-app purchasing.

"Make sure they cannot access credit card [details] because sometimes they might not be aware that they are making in-app purchases."

Ms Munn said all smartphones had some sort of parental controls.

"My personal favourite is the Apple devices because the parental controls are excellent," Ms Mann said.

"I hear so often, 'My child is not that kid, my child is a good kid.'"

"It doesn't matter how good your child is, your child will experience emotional pressures and peer group pressure, particularly in those first few years of high school and their behaviours will change."

Set boundaries

Ms Munn recommends setting boundaries around usage early on.

"It's much easier to set the boundaries in advance than it is to pull them back later," Ms Munn said.

"Write them down. Make a family contract about devices and social media usage straight up: this is what we expect, this is what the consequences are.

"And put some expectations in there for yourself as well, which makes the child feel that this is a really important thing."

Ms Trotter said managing these boundaries ultimately came down to being observant and sensitive to your child's changes in behaviour or mood.

"You might notice, for example, that they're not as focused on their schoolwork as they have been," Ms Trotter said.

"If they're experiencing cyberbullying they might be distressed or not want to hang out with the same group of friends that they've been hanging out with.

"Or they might be really focused on something to the exclusion of other things, like [an online] game."

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Buying your child a phone? Here's how to keep them safe online

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School students across Queensland are set to return to the classroom next Wednesday and many will do so with a mobile phone.

# data[].attributes.body
C. This article was published on December 12, 2019 atr 8:19 EST.
R. This relates to my topic because the name of the article is the same as the topic.
A. The author of the article is Fashina Aladé.
A. This supports my claim because it says that teenagers are most likely to have a phone like adults.
P.  The reason for this article is to show that most kids will have there first phone when they are a teenager.

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Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you'd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. What age should kids get phones? - Yuvi, age 10, Dayton, Ohio If it seems like all your friends have smartphones, you may be on to something.

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C. This video was posted on August 15 2014 1:15 PM
R. This video explains that most parents think kids should get there first smart phone from age 10-14.
A. The source of this video is the news program Today.
A. This video is supporting my topic because it is showing that kids should get there first smart phone when they are like 12 which is close to what I said they should have.
P. The reason for this video is so it can show that kids shouldn't have a phone at a very early age.

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How young is too young for kids to get their first cell phone?

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When American Express asked parents that question, 64 percent said between 10 and 14 years of age. About 10 percent of people that the right age is under 10 years old.

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C. This video was posted on March 23 2018.
R. This video relates to my topic because it shows that kids at a young age can get to addicted to the phone at a young age.
A. The publisher of this video is the youtuber IKnowItMOM.
A. This supports my claim by showing that kids shouldn't have it at a young a because they get to addicted to it.

# data[].attributes.body
C.  This article was posted on June 12, 2020
R. This is related to my topic because it says that 13 and up it a reasonable age to get a smart phone.
A. The publisher of this article is Kalen Bruce.
A. This relates to my claim because it says that kids should have a phone when they are a teen.
P. The purpose of this article is that  most kids should have their first phone when the are a teenger.

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My daughter had a heart-to-heart with me about getting a phone. She feels like she's missing out on a lot by not having a phone. Namely, her friends' group chat.

I told her that I understood, but that I think the risks outweigh the rewards right now. She's 12 years old, and most of her friends have phones. We also had the fairly regular conversation about how we don't do things just because other people do them.

We had the [also fairly regular] talk about how our family is different in a lot of ways and I truly believe she will appreciate it when she gets older. We also don't watch TV-other than the occasional family movie-so we're left out of conversations regarding the funniest new commercials or what point we're at in a TV series.

The conversation with my daughter was interesting, but it gets even better in our household...

Phones and Maturity Level

While I was in the middle of writing this article, a situation came up with our oldest son, who just turned 13. He brought home a phone that he said was given to him. We later found out that he actually saw it fall out of his classmate's pocket and he took it.

But wait! There's more!

When I went through the phone's contacts and found "Daddy," I send a message to get the phone back to the kid. That's when I figured out that the child my son stole from had actually stolen this phone from someone else! The desire to fit in and have a fun, handheld device is real. This is why we stay so connected with our children. We constantly ask them about their day and everything going on in their life.

These "funny" moments in life are learning points. What's the first thing my son did with this newly acquired phone? He searched for all the inappropriate content he could find on YouTube. Thankfully it was mostly inappropriate music videos; it could've been much worse.

We helped him see why he isn't mature enough to own a smartphone yet, and I really feel like it clicked. We're now awaiting a meeting with our son, the principal, and the two other students. It's going to be interesting.

These conversations with my kids sparked the idea behind this article. It brought up some important questions about children and phones. Are we limiting our kids socially by not allowing a phone until later than average? Which, by the way, the average age a child owns a smart phone today is around 10. On that note, should your kid have a smartphone or a... [gasp], "regular" phone (yes, they still make phones that only make phone calls, which I will refer to as "dumbphones" from here on).

Need-Based, Not Age-Based

If your kid is 14, and they walk home from school alone, or if they have a babysitting job that keeps them away from home sometimes, or if they have a part-time job working away from home... then sure, it's a good age for a cell phone. But if they're never left alone, and they're always in the care of an adult... do they need a phone? I don't think so. It's something for you to think about.

My friend's oldest [of six] son just started babysitting the younger children, at 12 years old. Now he has a phone. Because it makes sense from a practical standpoint. What if an emergency comes up? He needs a phone.

There's a big difference between getting your child a phone to use during certain circumstances or a dumbphone for added safety, and getting your child a smartphone with open internet access 24/7.

24/7 internet access for teens (and younger) is happening more and more.

Here's how it goes. A child turns a certain age or a need arises one time, and next thing, a smartphone comes to the rescue. You've seen it. Maybe you've done it. No judgement from me. But we have to think deeper into such an important issue. Given all the things a child can get into with an internet-accessible phone, I think it's worth taking the extra time.

James P. Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that reviews content and products for families, has a strict rule for his family: His children get a smartphone only when they start high school - after they have learned restraint and the value of face-to-face communication. I think that's brilliant. And it's intentional.

Along those lines, here are a few things to consider before getting your child a phone:

Do they need a phone?

Are they responsible enough to own a phone?

Are they pushing you to get them a phone? If so, why?

Can they be trusted with a phone when you're not there to monitor how they use it?

Who is paying for the phone and the plan?

A phone is a gateway to many great things, and many more not-so-great things. There is a lot of power in that small device. It's a big decision.

Social Concerns & Risk Vs. Reward

As I said, my daughter wants a phone to chat with her friends. Am I limiting her socialization by not allowing her a phone? In some ways, yes. But after talking to her, I think it may have more to do with her friends' perception of her not having a phone. That's what she doesn't like.

Don't get me wrong, a phone is a huge source of social interaction in today's world. I'm just not so sure that it's a good medium to be using at 12. Everyone is constantly talking about how much teens are on their phones, and once these teens hit their 20s, it doesn't change much. Nobody likes to have dinner with someone who is constantly on their phone. I realize it's an epidemic, and I don't want my kids to get caught up in it.

Technology is raising children in today's world. It's common to see a family at a restaurant, while the children's faces are stuck in a phone, whether mom and dad's phone or their own. In fact, a popular reason to get kids their own phones is so the parents can bury their faces simultaneously.

33% of parents and teens argue daily about device usage

50% of children admit to being addicted to their devices

72% of teens feel they must immediately respond to texts

78% of teens check their devices at least hourly, often more

We all know this is true. The same study found that 48% of parents feel the need to immediately respond to messages as well, so it's not just our children. We have to make sure we're setting the right example of healthy cell phone use. Our kids are watching our actions more than they're hearing our words.

It's not just about technology addiction. There is the "other" addiction you have to worry about when it comes to smartphones.

Smartphones and Pornography PSA

Now for a brief interruption and a public service announcement. I'm going to be blatant here, and call it like it is.

Pornography exposure at a young age can be devastating to a child's future sex life, and it all too often stems from parents being too lazy to monitor their children's internet activity. Or simply too lazy to parent and letting the smartphone do it. I know I'm being harsh, but that's because it's serious.

If your child is using the internet without any sort of monitoring, please wake up! There's a strong chance that pornography has already entered their life.

Whether this is already an issue, or you're concerned with it becoming an issue, I highly recommend accountability software like Covenant Eyes. We personally use it on all of our devices, to keep everyone accountable. They aren't paying me to say that; I just think it's that important.

If you only take away one thing from this entire article, let it be about this point. Intentional parenting requires us as the parents to get involved in what our kids are doing. A teen living at home should get a certain amount of privacy, but not when it comes to electronic devices like this. It's not worth risking their future for privacy's sake.

If you don't believe pornography is a true evil in the world, you may not know all the facts. On top of all the psychological effects, human trafficking is a real part of the internet pornography industry, and when someone looks at porn, they're contributing to the industry. Look at these scary statistics on how porn is poisoning the world.

Now back to your scheduled program.

What Age is the Right Age?

Again, I think children should get their own phone when they need one, not when they want one. We've been telling our children for a few years that they can have a phone if they come up with a good enough reason to own one. They have yet to do so, but they've tried. And eventually there will be a good enough reason. But as it stands, they're never alone without access to an adult who has a phone.

If you agree that this should be a need-based decision, then you will know when it's the right time. But just for fun, let's go through each age group and see what the experts say.

Under 4 - No phone necessary.

Age 4 to 6 - A phone can be dangerous at this age. The brain is still developing and social skills can be impacted. Your child is much more likely to become addicted to technology by having a phone at this age.

Age 7 to 9 - The experts say "no phones." Sure, you could argue that this is old enough to have a phone, but the brain is still in a serious developmental stage, and all technology has a major impact at this age.

Age 10 to 12 - At this age, experts recommend the potential of kids owning a phone only to call their parents. It's still not the right age for a smartphone, or at least not one with internet access. A ScienceDaily study shows that girls are particularly affected at this age, often negatively, by owning a smartphone.

Over 12 - Teens should wait until they're 16 if at all possible. The later the better, really. But 13 and on is a reasonable age to have a phone. It's still best to limit or eliminate internet access until at least 16.

I know you may want a specific age put on the decision. That's as close as I can get. The main thing is to wait until it's absolutely necessary.

It's easy to give into the "everybody's doing it" pressure and get your child a phone. So many kids have them by 12, and often younger, that it's hard to know your kid is one of the few without one.

As I say to my kids, nobody ever looks back on the last year, or 5 or 10 years, and says "I wish I would've spent more time watching TV and using my phone."

Not having a phone won't ruin their life, but it just might save their future.

Finding a Solution

My entire goal behind this article is to leave you with a solution that's right for you. Since I can't possibly know your exact situation, here are some ideas.

If you feel like your child isn't mature enough for a phone yet, don't get them a phone. If there is no real need for a phone (i.e. your child doesn't go to any events alone), then there is no real reason for a phone.

If you feel like your child does need a phone, but you don't trust them with a smartphone, consider getting them a dumbphone. They still make plenty of basic flip phones. Personally, I wouldn't trust any teen with a smartphone. I know how prevalent inappropriate content is, and filtering services can be expensive, so a dumbphone seems like a great solution.

If you decide to get your kid a smartphone, or if they already have one (it's difficult, but still possible, to take it away once they have it), then here are some final guidelines I would suggest:

Make sure you have the password to the device

Let your child know that you have the right to take it away at any point, if you see a reason

Set limits on the time your child can spend on their phone

Set the finance rules in stone, as far as who is paying for the phone and data, and what happens if the child uses additional data

Decide what will happen if the phone is broken or stolen, and who will pay for it

Specify off-limit times when your child is not allowed to use the phone (e.g. dinner, bed time, etc.)

Explain that you have the right to monitor everything your child is viewing, at any time, including text messages and social media

Source

Remember that you have the overall say when it comes to your child having a phone. You make the call; your child doesn't.

Further Book Reading

Last Updated: June 12, 2020

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When Should Your Kid Have Their Own Phone? A Real Conversation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My daughter had a heart-to-heart with me about getting a phone. She feels like she's missing out on a lot by not having a phone. Namely, her friends' group chat. The conversation with my daughter was interesting, but it gets even better in our household.

# data[].attributes.body
C. This article was made in 2014.
R. This relates to my topic because at the end of the passage it says We want to know… What age do you think is the right age for kids to get cell phones?
A. The author of this article is iMOM
A. This relates to my claim because that kids should get there first smart phone when they are 13.
P. The purpose of this is to show that most people think that they should give there kid a phone when they are teenager.