How Young Is Too Young?

Nothing scares me more than seeing children, as young as 10, with a cell phone in their hands.  With this new age of electronic media and digital boost, having a cell phone has become common.  It is one thing if the person with the phone is of a mature age, however, it is a whole other story when they are, say, still in middle school.  The rule in my house was that it was a graduation present before going to high school.  That present still came with limits.  I was regulated with my texting and I could only have the phone after a certain time at night. I honored these regulations resulting in full privilege of the phone.

It takes me my surprise when I see kids asking for other kids cell phone numbers so they can "text them later."  This should no longer be a surprise taking the fact that it has almost become the status quo--for all ages.  Having grown up with all the new technology inventions, some might think my generation could have it no other way.  That absolutely does not hold true for me.  I hate thinking that my children are going to not only know about them but want one of these divices before they even play in their first soccer game.  I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I can call someone with a question or have a normal conversation rather than killing my fingers trying to get out what I have to say.  I want others to still know what that is like even with all these new ways of communication. 

Conveince and saftey is of course used as common counter arguments in order to support the digital boost.  I can agree with that.  However, it is only under certain circumstances that these agruments can hold true.  Take for example a single mom who has a child old enough to stay home by his or her self.  If that mom attends a demanding job and cannot always anwer the phone, a simple text from the child letting his/her mom know he/she is home safe, can be all it takes to make the mother feel comfortable.

Although the use of cell phones has been opened up to a wide range of age groups, I believe the phones should be kept away from those of a certain age.  No one wants to rush their kids childhoods.  So why place a device in their hands that will expediate that process?