All this cell phone craze. And of course your teens want the latest and greatest. Most of all, they don’t want to be left out of the loop. Most teens, when given the choice of taking away use of the car or taking away their cell phone will choose the car. Times have changed!
Why? Their smart phone connects them to their world of friends. Take this away and you take away how they keep in touch and respond to their network of acquaintances (most of which are probably not positive role models anyways).
If you are on the fence, here are some reasons (from friends, students and professionals) to keep it dumb when it comes to a cell phone.
- All this time with others distracts investing time with their own family; keeps families from being close.
- Prevents teens from having some really, close friends because they are too busy staying in touch with a mass of acquaintances.
- No access to internet porn. (Don’t think this is a big deal? A quarter of 11 to 14-year-olds had viewed pornography with a group of friends. Around half of 15 to 17-year-olds have accessed pornography on a smartphone or tablet, according to a survey seen by Newsbeat: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26122390.)
- They don’t think ahead to consequences of sharing information, pictures, even chatting with someone they don’t know… so many dangers. There is nothing they need on a smart phone that they can’t get on a dumb phone.
- You would not let them walk down Bourbon Street by themselves, why give them free access to porn. (Youth Pastor)
- No snap chatting.
- Attending church actually has less value, because they can connect with friends where ever they are.
- Waste of time what with the social networking apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
- Reduces connecting with other kids who you would not deem suitable.
- Expense. It’s practically guaranteed they are going to break them :).
- Can’t be constantly connected to the world to engage and promote yourself.
- So they learn how to communicate verbally! (sent in by a mom.)
- So they don’t waste their time focusing on selfies, status updates, or subject themselves to wasting their time through social media (17-year-old female).
Enjoyed this post? Check out our other technology safety related posts HERE!
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Written by Jonathan
Rev. Jonathan Cronkhite has been serving youth and families in full time
ministry for the last 23 years. With the heart of a pastor, he encourages and equips families to have Homes Devoted, through conferences, workshops, coaching and writing. Married to Carrie for 22 years, they have 5 children, run a home school co-op, drama club and invite 50 people over once a month for airsoft battles.
Comments 2
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Just crazy these days lots of younger kids have smartphones n fancy expensive tablets like the iPad n the like, there are some made for kids like the Kindle Fire n HP n the like. They need put age restrictions on the devices. I didn’t get a cell phone til I was about seventeen, so kids should NOT be owning smartphones until or after high school. That’s why so many kids are getting spoiled n antisocial. My nephew(Almost 12) has an iPhone 5, LG tablet, DS n a PS vita, like seriously. My niece(Age 10) also has an iPhone 5 n an HP tablet. I told my brother that they really don’t need smartphones n to get em a basic one to use essentially for emergency. They also have a computer, so it is enough. Why waste money on stuff they don’t really need. I just pray people go back to basics n quit relying on technology too much, it hinders productivity.