Cellphone age of use
October 31st, 2009 at 9:50 am by David FarrarThe Press reports:
Teenagers who prefer texting to talking have driven some parents to call for a minimum cellphone ownership age of 14.
“Parents are worried teenagers are losing the ability to properly communicate with eye-to-eye contact,” said Shanti Ravichandran, of Auckland’s Unitec, who has surveyed parents’ attitudes to teenage cellphone use.
She said the use of text language was “overpowering” among teenagers, with some even using it in school examinations.
Ravichandran, a Master of Computing graduate, said 52 per cent of the 115 parents or caregivers she surveyed felt there should be a minimum age of 14 for cellphone ownership.
How effing ridicolous. The last thing NZ needs is an age limit for using or owning a cellphone. What next – a state imposed curfew at 9 pm, or a mandatory go to bed at 9.30 pm?
Those 52% of parents are very welcome not to allow their kids to own a cellphone. But they shouldn’t try and decide for all families what is best. Decisions should be made by families, not the state.
I know many parents who find it incredibly reassuring that their kids have a cellphone, as they can contact them 24/7.
Parents’ main concerns about cellphones were text bullying, addiction to text messaging and the negative impact on communication skills, she said.
“Because it is so discreet, teenagers are doing it under their sheets and they’re not getting enough sleep.”
So the solution is to send in the Police to arrest them?
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
Had same thought when I read it – maybe those parents should like maybe not buy their kids a cell phone?
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:08 am
Mind you – if the kids went to bed at 9.30pm then there would be fewer tired kids getting diagnosed with ADHD or ADD.
My daughter has cell phone at eleven and while I dont need to contact her by phone 24/7 (I like to know she is at home for most of that 24 hours), it is good to be able to arrange pick ups from school or change arrangements on the fly.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:25 am
“So the solution is to send in the Police to arrest them?”
I’m sold.
I can think of few 14 year olds who couldn’t improved from having the living crap scared out of them before they’re old enough to be held accountable for their actions after years of having rights without responsibilities.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:34 am
You should listen to her, she is a “Master of Computing graduate”. She managed to get a “Bachelor of Computing” at a technical school, but was still unable to get a job. But we can tell she is intelligent that because she designed a survey to prove her own personal bias, which 52% (over half!) of the people ticked a certain box.
But she is really smart, because the way to handle it is not to allow those 52% to not buy their kid a phone, but to introduce a law banning cellphones in under 14s. Of course Fairfax knows it’s ‘controversial’, so that’s why some poorly designed study makes the front page of Stuff.co.nz. Just more trolling from the newspapers.
[DPF: I am not criticising the researcher, more the respondents]
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:35 am
So a survey of 115 people out of maybe 1 million parents in NZ gives a 9.14% margin of error and that is assuming the sample was truly representative.
Nothing to see here people other than hot air… move along… move along.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:40 am
My Son is 11 and has had a cell phone for three years. He can communicate effectively, and is exceptionaly good at gramatically correct written english.
6 months out from my daughters 8th Birthday, we are assessing her suitability for a cell phone of her own.
I find that entrusting my children with responsibility early on nets positive results in the childs development.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 10:43 am
I’ve got a thrid of the one of those bachelor or computing things from a tech tristanb.
It was such a complete load of BS that I didn’t even go to the graduation or collet my certificate from the first year. The Mcdonalds of education. If anyone came to me looking for a job with a tech education I’d need them to prove they could actually do what their qualification claims.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Of course the Government should legislate an immediate age restriction on cellphones for minors.
Vote:One needs to look no further than the “The Anti Smacking legislation” to see the protective effect of such well thought out laws on our nation’s children.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:18 am
Appalling that Unitec has become a vehicle for socialist propagranda, and worrying that it is often done under the guise of “research”, as if to add some credibility to the issue.
Shanti Ravichandran, do you realise there are many people who are not as fortunate as you are , in that you have access to learning facilities and have the ability to voice your opinion? Do you realise that the research you are doing is little more than socialist propoganda? Why dont you start thinking for yourself and start conducting research into issues that are actually worth your time?
Do you realise how stupid you and the institute look to be pushing such useless research while our government is consistently reducing funding to our scientists who are conducting legitimate research?
The problem lies in the education system, i suggest you aim your guns there
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 11:22 am
I’m with you DPF – bloody ridiculous!
When are parents (52% of those surveyed) simply going to grow a pair?
If you don’t want your kids to have one, then don’t permit them to.
If they use them “under their sheets”, then make them surrender them each night prior to bedy-bies.
Heck, I know some families that have one or two ‘communal’ cellphones which kids only take and use outside the home; ie they’re not permited to use it inside the home – landline only.
This stuff really isn’t rocket science.
Vote:If parents can’t control this aspect of their kid’s lives, then NZ has no future – and maybe these parents shouldn’t even have kids.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:42 am
“Because it is so discreet, teenagers are doing it under their sheets and they’re not getting enough sleep.”
It’s probably a better alternative to “pulling their pud”, and less likely to damage their eyesight.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 11:54 am
Looking back I can’t think of a single time a cell-phone would have been useful while raising my children.
I am therefore in favour of an age limit on these devices.
Wouldn’t stop at 14 though, 54 would be better.
I hope this bloody silly study, survey and report were paid for by the “student” making the claims rather than, once again, the poor bloody taxpayer.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I think cell phones are a great security aid to children. I would have though the main concern would be the increasing evidence that prolonged use may increase the likelihood of the development of brain tumours.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 12:22 pm
“The last thing NZ needs is an age limit for using or owning a cellphone.”
Be careful and don’t say it too loud. Joyce, the Transport czar, could hear you and attempt to pass legislation on this matter.
Nothing can be dismissed as is ridiculous when it comes to the power of the state and its longing for control. Haven’t we learnt this fundamental lesson after nine years on the slippery slope to socialism?
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
What backster said.
Though I think the jury is still out on tumours being caused by cellphone use, I agree prudence is in order. No reason why they can’t text though.
My kids had pagers (they were cutting edge then), and got coded messages meaning “Where the hell are you” and “Phone immediately”, and so on, so I could always get hold of them. Failure to comply led to the dreaded grounding.
Cellphones would have been even better.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 1:06 pm
“Because it is so discreet, teenagers are doing it under their sheets and they’re not getting enough sleep”
Parents are so naive – that fap fap fap noise is not a cell phone texting.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Yup, my 11 year old spends a vast amount of his spare time at either the skate park or the BMX track. Us having a connection via cellphone has meant more freedom and responsibility for him, and greater peace of mind for us.
As a child, I had lots of freedom. Because of location, and the different social climate of today, i believe the ability to have immediate communication, while enoying freedom to be reasonably important.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Actually, Cindy Kiro already had perfect plans in which these kind of eventualities could easily be covered, by just extending the parameters of looking after the welfare of children a little bit. Another good idea may to check whether they all have vegies everyday and brush their teeth after meals and before going to bed, together with making sure that they all know how to use different means of anti conception by age 11 and the way to the abortion clinic by 13.
Vote:October 31st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I like the Parents Inc standard.
In this family, TV Computer and cellphones are not a right, they are a privilege and subject to both rules and sanctions.
Our family rule is – you leave your cellphone in the lounge at the recharge station when you go to bed.
Vote:Lights out is just that and go to sleep
Failure to act within the rules leads to less TV and computer time and the withdrawing of the cellphone until you come right.
If further actions are required then that will increase the time taken off of your allocation accordingly.
These rules roll over each week.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
“Decisions should be made by families, not the state.”
Hope to see you at the anti smacking protest coming up in Akld David.
Vote:November 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
“Decisions should be made by families, not the state.”
Well said
Hope to see you at the anti smacking protest coming up in Akld
I’ll be there at the protest. Primarially to protest at the arogance of the incumbent Govt to ignore a referrendum with such a compelling Kiwi opinion.
Vote:Did you know that it is NZ First policy for referendum’s to be binding.