gizmokid999

Cell phone companies are now targeting younger kids and marketing phones with speed dial buttons to call their parents and 911. Parents can control who their kids call and who they can take calls from, and they control costs through pay-as-you-go programs.

I think it's a little alarming that young children are already on mailing lists for marketers and advertisers. Also, there's the risk of the kids accessing external content that their parents haven't approved.

But at the same time, cell phones help parents keep tabs on their kids. Do the pros outweigh the cons?

hotshot

One has to wonder if it was really safety that prompted the cell phones for kids or money making. I think in theory it is a great idea, especially with all phones having 911 access. However how often is that really a factor. Also how will kids learn to do things on thier own when they have constant access to someone else. I can see the benefits or what may be percieved as benefits especially with all the recently televised amber alerts in the media. But really kids aren't getting more independent as they are dependent. There are times when they have to be trusted on thier own to make decisions. I think they have become yet another status symbol and distraction. In our area kids 8,9,10 yrs old are getting trac-phones and regular cell phones. It is another status issue. Who couldn't tell you exactly where thier child that age is at any time without calling?

gizmokid999

I agree that it's just another way for cell phone companies to make more money and exploit a new demographic. When I was in high school in the 1990s, the big status symbol was carrying a beeper. Our principal banned the use of beepers in school because they were so distracting. I wonder if cell phones are allowed in schools now.

hotshot

speaking of children already being on lists for advertisors, my friend was telling me the other day her 3 year old quotes commercials all the time and in her sleep she was talking about how you can 'keep your colors brighter, and whites whiter'.
i guess i don't think just cuz they have cells that they're going to be any worse off than any other kid, cuz they're all getting reached through the media.
and, furthermore, it's important for kids to be able to contact parents.
also, while there's risk for kids to contact external sources, as the first paragraph states: parents can control contacts & such. .