do you think its ok for an 8 year old to have there own mobile phone ?

RedDanDoc · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:19

I might be over reacting here but my sister-inlaw has bought both my kids mobile phones and I'm not too happy about it .

I thought that It was my parental responsibility as a father to determine whether they should have mobile phones or not.

Am I over reacting ?

asim18 · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:21

She should have asked you first. But I had my first phone when I was about 8. No problem with it, I used to take it to school and everything and feel like the coolest kid in school.

zipp0r · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:23

over reacting! you can now get hold of your children when they are out... good thing no? :\

Martin_Man · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:25

zipp0r said:
over reacting! you can now get hold of your children when they are out... good thing no? :\

agreed...

Cosimo · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:25

Sod that, eight year olds don't need phones. Take them away and let them have them when they're older.

Rroff · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:26

Its a bit off IMO that she bought something like that for your kids without consulting you or their mother - but if shes gonna pay the bill thats a little different

I don't see it as a big deal tho not really sure what major need of a mobile a child of 8 has even in this day and age but as above atleast you can use it to keep in contact with them and vice versa. Thing is tho they'll prolly just end up lost, broken or pinched by another kid.

RedDanDoc · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:26

zipp0r said:
over reacting! you can now get hold of your children when they are out... good thing no? :\

I just thought there was an element of danger with radiation etc. Also I want my kids to be kids and not minature adults.

She (sister inlaw) even made a Facebook account for my daughter who is only 9 years old.

I guess I'm over reacting though.

mithrandir · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:28

Eight year olds don't need a phone, thus the answer is simple - No.

Cosimo · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:28

zipp0r said:
over reacting! you can now get hold of your children when they are out... good thing no? :\

Yeah, eight year olds go out all the time by themselves.

Only if they live on council housing estates.

Rroff · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:29

Theres definitely no radiation issues with occasional useage (under 30 minutes per 1-2 days). I wouldn't want to rule out potential dangers with prolonged useage i.e. 1 hour phone calls every day.

Everyone has a facebook account these days lol... from my newly born nephew to my relatives in their 80s :S

JBuk · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:29

They're old enough but she should have asked you first

Steve2000 · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:31

I was 41 when I got my first mobile phone. I managed just fine.

Raumarik · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:31

simulatorman said:
Sod that, eight year olds don't need phones. Take them away and let them have them when they're older.

and why do people need to contact their kids when they are out and about? Is there a need to know where these kids are? Surely being away from your parents is part of growing up?

I detest mobile phones, I wouldn't have one if it wasn't required by my work!

Bottom line is you should have been asked first. I assume she'll be paying any bills or top ups?

coltpython3 · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:32

absolutely not!! who will they phone anyways?

RedDanDoc · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:33

Rroff said:
Everyone has a facebook account these days lol... from my newly born nephew to my relatives in their 80s :S

I thought you had to be over 16 to have one of those facebook accounts ?

Just a bit concerned as you hear these horror stories about peados etc.

iNPUt · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:34

Just make sure its a crap phone they can only call / text on nothing else, maybe a bit of snake, eliminates the risk of someone nabbing it.

Facebook is fine as long as everything is set to private / friends only..

Deleted member 77746 · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:34

mithrandir said:
Eight year olds don't need a phone, thus the answer is simple - No.

I would have to agree with the statements above but then it could come in handy. Maybe you could pop an o2 simcard in and register it online and you can see whats going on with text messages and phone calls (I don't agree with spying) but it's there for protection)

Rroff · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:36

RedDanDoc said:
I thought you had to be over 16 to have one of those facebook accounts ?

Just a bit concerned as you hear these horror stories about peados etc.

There probably is a limit like that not looked into it.

Aslong as she uses the right privacy settings she should be ok (don't expose age and profile image to public) that way its pretty much limited to friends (people who already know her) rather than random people online.

Martin_Man · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:38

what if your kids get lost somewhere (as they do from time to time) a phone in this situation could be well and truly handy. Or if they need to call for an emergency for any reason...

Angilion · 4 Jul 2010 at 18:38

I think you're over reacting but you have some grounds for being concerned about the lack of communication. She should have talked to you first. There are some issues with giving 8 year olds pretty much open access. A phone isn't just a phone any more. Being a phone is just a minor additional function on handheld computers nowadays. There might also be issues with paying for it - who's going to be paying the bills?

But personally I think I'd be giving my kids phones myself, if I had any (kids that is, not phones

). I'd want them to be able to tell me "Dad, I need help" at any time if they needed to.