Cell Phones: How Young is too Young?

I got my first cell phone when I was 14, a freshman in High School.  I started playing on a school sports team and my parents wanted a way to stay in touch in after practices, or just so they could reach me if something happened.  I remember it was cool to have a phone, but it wasn't something that I used a whole lot, I had it when I wanted to talk to one of my friends or if I needed to call my parents, but for the most part it wasn't a necessary addition to my life.  Since then though it's hard for me to leave my phone at home or not to know where it is because it has become something where I am afraid I will miss out on what is happening if I leave my phone behind.  I have become accustom to being connected at all times that is hard when I need to disconnect and take a break from it.

I just read an article that talked about how cell phones are becoming a must-have item for tweens and younger.  This is something that really boggles my mind.  I can't seem to wrap my mind around why a 7 year old would need a cell phone.  Yes they may think that cell phones are cool because they see their parents or older siblings with one, but at the same time 7 year olds have existed without cell phones for quite a long time and they can continue to do so.  First of all I don't think 7 year olds should be in a situation where they aren't with an adult who can be contacted, they shouldn't need a phone of their own because they should be with someone who is older and responsible enough to have a phone so that they can be contacted.  Secondly it seems wasteful to me that children are being given such expensive toys that are not getting that much use.  When most people had landlines, it didn't seem critical that young children had their own phone lines, so why should it be any different now.  I understand that we live in a technologically advancing world, but it doesn't mean that the youngest members of our society need to be constantly connected.  I know that my views may change over time as technology advances, but as for now I don't think that children under about 13 need cell phones.  Children always want to grow up as fast as possible, but that doesn't mean that we have to let them do so, it is our job to help them not get ahead of themselves and simply be children.

Here is an article I found at the end of chapter 2 of Brooks-Young's book.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/26/Business/Must_have_for_tweens_.shtml