Sunday, December 1, 2019

Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"


Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"

What is the earliest age that a child should have a cell phone? Parents wonder what the right answer to this question is - at what age did YOU get your first cell phone?

Well, Bill Gates chimed in on the subject during a recent interview - he says that his children didn't get one until they were 14. Click HERE for an article on the subject.

Take a look at the "...list of questions parents should answer before giving their child their first phone" at the bottom of the article.

We will watch this 60 Minutes story in class about how cell phone apps "hack our brains".

HERE is an article about proposed legislation to ban 'pay to win' features in games, such as loot boxes.

What should a student due to make sure that they don't "overuse" or become addicted to their phone or "screen". Do you think you've become addicted to your phone?  What IS the earliest age that you think a child should have a cell phone?

Knowing the risks, what types of things would you want to talk to a child about, like a younger brother or sister, before they are given the responsibility of having a cell phone?

42 comments:

  1. I think the right age to get a phone is 12 because I got my first phone at 12 and i think it is best because 12 is about the age you are going out of the house, going around town and such. You need some kind of contact with your parents when you leave the house. I think I have become very addicted to my phone, when I dont have it I feel like im missing something. I think I am going to give my kids a phone at about 12 years old

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    1. I agree with Ryder I would give them their phone around age 12

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    2. I agree the kids need to be able to contact their parents and parents need to contact kids. I know my parents text me when to come home. They have an app that tracks where you are on it to. I don't like it because it is a too much information. It tells them if I'm on my phone and how fast the car is going. Sometimes I wish I didn't have a phone.

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    3. I agree that 12 is a good age to get a phone, that is around the age that kids are starting to be mature enough to handle the responsibilities, but parents should
      limit their usage when they first get it.

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  2. I feel like when parents start to let their kids go out with friends and stuff they should have one wether a track phone or an iPhone, because if something happens or the child needs to picked up or something they can easily call or text the parents. Phones really aren't as bad as people are making them out to be. they are necessary in some cases like when someone gets into a car accident or if your friend get hurt you can call the police or an ambulance. Some people do take having technology too far but for some people its necessary. Especially for parents to check in with their kids when they go out with their friends to make sure they're okay and not doing anything they aren't supposed to be.

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    1. I agree. I don't think phones are as bad as people think as long as you use it properly. Parents can grow trust when they give their child a cell phone.

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  3. If they have a iphone they can set up screen time. It tells you how long you have been on it and what apps. Im sure there is an app on android or something. You can also set a timer that only allows however many minutes or hours you want. I don't think I am addicted too badly but, I know a lot of people are. I think the earliest age is around 10, I think you could use your parents tablet or phone. I would warn them about getting a virus. I would also let them know about getting addicted.

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    1. I agree with mason i would set them up with a screen time thing.

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    2. I agree with the screen time.

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  4. I would give them their first phone when they are around age 12 because thats how old i was when I got my first phone. But I would set them up on a screen time thing.

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    1. I agree with the screen time. I would never want it but, if you had it the whole time you had the phone it wouldn't be as annoying. If that was what the rule was in your house it wouldn't be as bad. I think it would be a good idea to limit the amount of time they spend on there devices.

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    3. I agree with Dylan, Set up a screen time for them.

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  5. I think that a student should try to look at your screen time and whatever is used the most you try and use the least. I don't think i've been addicted to my phone but I also think that I do sometimes overuse my phone. I don't think it's a certain age that a child should be in order to get a phone I think it's about how they act. Like if you can allow and trust your child to stay home alone for even just a couple hours at a time, then I believe that they would be mature enough to own their own phone.

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    1. Same, I always look thru my screen time and I see how high my Snapchat, Tik Tok, and Instagram are and I'm just like "I need to not use this as much." I understand you need to trust your child with a phone when they have to stay home alone or going out with friends, but I say there still should an age limit, you'd never leave a 3 year old home alone or let your 9 year old go somewhere with friends without talking to the parents.

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  6. I don't think there is a certain age that you shouldn't have a phone. You should get a phone when you are mature enough to use one.

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    1. I agree with Danny because you could be 16 and still really immature.

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  7. i believe the right age to get a phone is around 11 or 12, the reason i believe this is because at that age you will be going out of the house by yourself and you need some way to contact others if something happens or if you need help. i think to help prevent kids from becoming the parents should somewhat monitor their activity, and limit how much time they are allowed to spend on it each day. Also kids should know that they have responsibility for their actions when they get their first phone.

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    1. I agree because communication is necessary when you're always going out.

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  8. I think that the earliest age a child should have a phone is 12 years old. There are many dangers on the internet and I just think that the child would have to limit their phone use, block inappropiate websites, and have to get permision to download any apps on the device for them to get a phone at such a young age.

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    1. I agree, parents should limit their use and set barriers on what they can and cannot use. They should also make sure that the kids know the responsibilities before they get their phone.

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    2. I agree because a lot of bad parents give their young child a tablet or phone and think it's a solution, but it makes more problems.

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    3. i agree if someone isn't mature enough the internet can be a dangerous place.

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    4. i agree i dont think kids should get phones at a young age

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  9. A student should be able to limit his or her time. I feel addiction is when you can't limit this time anymore. I myself have found myself sadly somewhat addicted to my phone. I can most definitely live without it but it's also an important part of me. I also feel that the earliest age you should get a phone is at the age of 12. I feel this because this is really when you are starting to get in to your teen years and it's important to communicate with your parents. I also feel children should know the risk of hackers and viruses.

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  10. I think students should make sure all of their school work is done before going on their phone. Personally, when I finish all of my homework it feels like a bigger reward to use my phone afterward. I think I am a little addicted to my phone with getting likes if I post something, which is not good. I think kids should get a phone when they are 12, entering middle school since they will be out without parents more. That way, they can call when they need to get picked up. When a child first gets a phone, parents could limit time to a certain amount per day.

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    1. I agree that school work should come first before you go on your phone at all and unfortunately, I am one of those people who always has their phone right next to them while doing work. The constant dings and beeps from likes or messages always make me want to stop with my homework and completely forget what I'm suppose to be doing. I say that that 12 year old, middle school age is the perfect time for a phone, but I didn't get one till I was 14, lived off the Wifi in any possible place I could find for my IPod and I wish I wasn't so addicted to that device.

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  11. I got my first phone when I turn 14, I lived off of a IPad and a IPod from about the age of 9 or 10 years old. To reduce the amount of time on a device for a student and some of my cousins and friends have this installed as well, their parents would put certain restrictions or timers on what specific app or website you can go on for a period of time before it "boots" you out. Another is to shut down your phone or turn it in at a certain time at a destination away from you, an example would be before you go to bed or when relatives come over. From my point of view, I'd say I'm a little addicted to the device, the feelings of missing out on certain events, or messages on an app you need to check 24/7, getting a like or comment on a post to boost my interest. 14 is a perfect age to start using a cell phone because they aren't too young to act all silly, if you teach them what's right or wrong on a app or website. I'd tell them about never giving personal information like your home address or phone number to anyone you don't know for sure, don't go on sites that are inappropriate or unfit for a kid to use, think to yourself "if my parents were watching me go on this, would they approve?" The main reason to have a phone is having that sense of security, being able to stay connected between your parents and yourself, or call emergency responders when something bad happens.

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    1. I got my first phone when I was 12 but also lived off an IPod for about two years before that.

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  12. Nicole is too addicted to her phone to write her blog post. It is unhealthy.

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  13. I think kids should get their phone at 13, I got my 1st phone at 15. A student like me just turns off notification sounds & the problem of always needing to check your phone has been solved. I sometimes spend too much time on my phone.

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    1. I agree with Landon that they should turn their notifications off so they won't have the urge to pull their phone out and check it. Also I think that I spend a little too much time on my phone some days.

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  14. I think that parents should set guidelines and not allow their child to get social media until they know the risks that come with it. And the parents should limit their child's screen time so they don't overuse the phone and become addicted.

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  15. I think there is no specific age I think it just depends on how mature someone is so they are able to use all the features responsibly. I don't think I am addicted to my phone the only time i use it is for music or when i literally have nothing to do.

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    1. I agree with tad. Depending on how mature the child is and how they act. They have to be responsible enough to know what to and what not do with it.

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  16. When all my work is done and i have nothing to do i use my phone. i have a job and school work and i still need time to sleep. There isn't a day i dont use my phone but i dont overuse it

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  17. When I got my first phone, I was 12. I thought it was an appropriate time to get a phone. I first started of with a I pad mini around the age of 9. I didn't do much on besides play games and watch youtube, it just kept me occupied throughout the day. I think 12 is a good time to get a phone because parents start thinking you're more immature and have a little more trust in you, than you when you were younger. Well at least my parents did, I also kept my grades up. I did get social media when I first got my phone, but didn't really care about it until I was a little older. I didn't do any thing inappropriate to where I would get my phone taken away.

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  18. I personally think I am addicted to my phone, mainly using it for social media. My parents know I go on my phone a lot so they make me check it in at 9, which I'm ok with. I don't have time limits on my phone, but I would set it up if a child is majorly addicted like Olivia France for example. I turn my phone off at appropriate times when I'm at family gatherings and stuff important like that. You don't want to get to a point where you look rude.

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  19. Parents can also have a tracking device on your phone, notifying them if you go places and how fast you are going in a car. I don't mind it because I don't do much bad things and stay home a lot. I think parents mainly give phones to communicate with their kids. There are lots of benefits of phones like messaging, listening to music, the use of internet and more. There is also risks though, so you'd want to make sure they are safe. An example is not to talk to strangers on your phone or give out private information to anyone.

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  20. I agree, there are lots of benefits to having a phone though.

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  21. There is alot of benefits with your phone contact with your friends and many more you can do on it.

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  22. i wouldn't give out information like your name, address, etc. also i wouldn't talk to strangers you don't know

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