Pros and Cons of Getting Your Child a Mobile Phone

Mobile phones are everywhere today. Billions of people use them at home, at work, on the bus, at the park and just about anywhere else you could imagine. Also, it’s not only adults that have them anymore. In fact, over half of all American children own a smartphone by the age of 11. Many get them at an even earlier age.

But before you go rush out and purchase your child a smartphone for them to use, you need to make some considerations. It is a big step for a child to get a phone and opens them up to the wide world of the internet. While it can be a great resource, it can also be dangerous at times.

With that in mind, let’s go over a few of the pros and cons of getting your child a mobile phone.

Pros of Getting Your Child a Mobile Phone

One of the major pros of getting your child a mobile phone is that it allows you to stay in touch with them. Payphones hardly exist anymore, so a cell phone lets your child contact you any time they want and helps keep them safe. Also, if you use an app like Phone Tracker on their device, it will allow you to track their GPS, as well as monitor some parts of their usage to make sure they are safe.

Another great benefit of a cell phone for your child is for educational and entertainment purposes. They can have not only games and videos to keep your child entertained for hours but also a ton of educational content that can teach them more about their favorite interests. Of course, be sure to teach them about good browsing habits and how to stay safe when online. Also, it is a good idea to limit their usage of phones and make sure they are still active and spending time with friends.

Having a cell phone can also allow your child to communicate with their friends quickly and easily. In the past, children would hog telephone lines or simply not be able to keep up with their friends outside of a school. Cell phones and smartphones allow children to build stronger relationships with their friends and keep in touch with extended family, as well.

Cons of Getting Your Child a Mobile Phone

Of course, it is important to be aware of the drawbacks of getting your child a mobile phone as well. First and foremost, having a cell phone is a big responsibility for a child. They have to care for it, remember to take it with them and keep it charged. Phones are quite expensive nowadays, and it would be unfortunate to buy your child one and then have them break or lose it. 

Also, another is the potential for your child to encounter the dangers of the internet. This could be bullying, unsavory content, phishing scams, viruses, and everything in between. This type of thing can upset your child or even lead to private information being leaked. While you can teach them everything you know about being safe online or what to look out for, there is always a chance something bad happens.

Another drawback of cell phones is that children can easily become addicted to them. Being obsessed with a cell phone can make children unhealthy, not focus in school, and stop spending time with friends. Also, having a cell phone can often lead kids to procrastinate and put important things off like reading and studying.

In conclusion, the information in this article will help you decide whether or not to get your child a mobile phone.