My how times have changed. When I was 8 years old I didn’t even know mobile phones were around, but oh yes, they were.
This is the cell phone that was made in 1992.
Pure awesomeness I tell you.
Now-a-days though, being 8 is some what of an average age to have your first cell phone. The typical age is 12.2 years of age for their first cell phone, and 13.8 years old for their first smart phone. That holds my first question: Do your kids already have their first cell phone? How old were they when you got them a cell?
AT&T, always proactive when it comes to mobile phones and being safe, Recently they conducted a survey that sheds light on the always popular topic of kids and mobile phones together.
The survey got some shocking results back that I’m here to tell you about.
- 17 percent of kids ages 8-10 have received a mean or bullying text message from another child.
- One in four teens ages 15-17 have received mean or bullying text messages.
- Nearly half of children ages 11-14 know someone who has received a sexual message or picture over their phone; that percentage jumps to more than half for teens ages 15-17.
- 48 percent of children ages 11-14 have ridden in vehicles with people who are texting and driving. After age 15, the percentage of teens who have ridden with a driver who was texting increases to 64 percent!
Scary, isn’t it? Even after all the bans on texting and driving, even after reading in the news about texting causing so many car accident deaths, even after all that, texting while driving is still happening.
AT&T has decided not to just sit back and watch all this happen. They have decided to do something to help, and even if you aren’t an AT&T customer you can take advantage their AT&T Safety School features.
On the Safety School site you will find some of the latest products that AT&T offers but also lots of downloadable resources to help you and your family.
If you’ve Googled “cellphone time restrictions” or “app bill shock,” you may already know that a lot of
the existing wireless information is very basic – for the most part, you will find the same information for
your 8-year-old and your 18-year-old. But the problem is, that’s a huge age difference and the restrictions an 8-year-old needs are not the same as a 16, 17, or even 18 years old.
AT&T has broken it down for you so you can find the information you need for your child’s age:
- 8-11
- 12-14
- 15-17
So while concerns will always be there, parents have a lot of options when it comes to managing how a mobile phone is used. AT&T offers tools that can block what content may be accessed, times of day phones can be used and ways to block texts and calls from bullies. Additionally, AT&T FamilyMap can help parents locate their children and it will send alerts at predetermined times with the child’s location, such as when they should have arrived at home or school.
Makenna is almost 8 and she doesn’t have a cell phone yet and after discussing it with my husband we have about 8 more years before we even let her have one. I’m sure things will change from now till then but I’m glad I’ll have this information from AT&T now. Stay with me over the next couple months while I bring you some of these features and tell you about the awesome things I’ll be doing in my community to help parents and kids alike.
Do your kids already have their first cell phone?
How old were they when you got them a cell?
When do you plan on getting your kids their first cell phone?
Disclosure: I have been invited by AT&T to speak about the Safety School as an Ambassador. I have received monetary compensation for my time, and expertise in the program. All opinions are my own and do not reflect the experience you may have.
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Those statics really make you think. My son had a cell phone at 10 but really never used it.
My girls are still too young for a cell phone, but I imagine that within the next year or two my oldest will probably be getting one.
The boys are too young, but once their visiting friends often I’m sure we’ll get them a phone so they are reachable.
I was 17 when i got my first cell phone back in 1996. It was w/ ATT and an Ericson phone. I loved it so. Oh how time is flying by. LOL!
Jake had a Firefly at 9, it was a basic phone. He just got a smart phone last year and he pays for it himself. He’s almost 16.
that’s great that he pays for it by himself. I think we’ll let Makenna get a smart phone when she can pay for it
My oldest is in her late teens and we are open to her getting a cell phone because she’s getting older and she goes to friends houses. Our younger kids probably won’t be getting one until they are at least sixteen though.
My kids have the older version smart phones, but none of them have phone service, they’re just for games. And with those scary statistics, even when he does get a cell phone which will be many years still, it’ll just be the basic version just for phone. It’s nice to know other options for restrictions are in place, though.
Its good to see there are options out there for moms who are apprehensive about giving their children a cell phone. It worries me that my daughter doesn’t have one but I GREW Up without one and honestly they can get kids into so much trouble especially the one’s with internet access.
Thanks for the incite on this program
My oldest two have cell phones but they are in middle school and high school and want to and from school. I prefer they have a way to call mom if needed.
What a great idea for kids. That is a lot of good information for parents and kids to talk about starting early!
This is scary. I am not ready for my younger kids to have cell phones anytime soon.
My daughters are only 4 and 5, but I am already trying to make these decisions. My husband seems to think that she needs to have a phone the minute she starts school – I think he’s insane. I don’t think they should get cellphones until they are mature and responsible enough to handle it without being ridiculous.
lol, yeah that’s a little silly. I think my 7 year old would lose a cell phone if I gave it to her right now. That or the kids in her class or bus would mess with it and break it or something.
That are crazy stats! I am not sure if I will let my daughter have a cell. We have many years before I have to decide though! I remember the ancient phones back in the day.
What great options! My daughter had her first cell at 8, but it was a firefly with no options except to call mom and dad and 911. Now she has an iphone. LOL
I remember those Firefly phones. Do you they even make them anymore?! lol.
I can’t say that I’m all that surprised about the results of the survey but it sure its scary. My oldest is 11 and will be going to junior high this coming school year. With all the extra curriculars he’s wanting to sign up for, I have been thinking about getting him a cell phone just so he could have a way to reach me if need be. He’s usually with an adult when he’s not with me or his dad but I still like to check up on from time to time
.
I think I would feel differently if my daughter was in any school programs too.
I don’t have my own cell phone yet, I plan on getting one this year though. After realizing how much easier it is to just have one if I need it or if I’m out and need to tell my parents where I am at I REALLY want one. My parents are open to me getting one since I’m older and I can pay for it. Now I just have to find an affordable phone.
Wow, those are some scary statistics.
Wow! Those are some pretty staggering statistics! My girls are still way too young for cell phones, but I’m thinking maybe when they are ten, they can have their own cell phone.
Kudos to AT&T for creating the safety agreement!