Would you get an iPhone for a 12 year old?

[Maximus]

My son has had a cell phone for the past couple years. He's responsible and mature for his age. I am thinking about getting him an iPhone for his bday. Would you do it? Or, would you just get him a nice, regular phone without internet access?

 

[EliteReefs]

i did. my son is 12 and he has a droid2 and my daughter is 8 and she has a blackberry.
both not iphones but its the same idea,pricepoint,function.
I dont worry about use because we have a unlimited everything family plan

they both have a envy touch back up phone. if they ruin.lose,break,abuse, whatever the "good" phone they dont get another one and can use the back up one. this way how long they have it is up to them.
treat it well and be happy. treat it bad and deal with the lesser phone. the choice is thiers. so far so good. my duaghter treats it well but does not use it much except for music,games,videos. my son treats it like it pure gold because in middle school its like a status thing. eveyr time i turn around he is polishing the dang thing lol

 

[Troylee]

hmmmm my 4yr old has a iphone 2g my 6 yr old has a iphone 3g and my 8yr old has a iphone 3gs and dad has the iphone 4...lol i only have service on my oldest kids phone and the younger ones use them as ipods when i feel they need it i will activate the service..... it saves me so much money from buying nintendo ds games and psp etc..... i love it.... only way to go..1smile1

 

[Viva'sReef]

Yep my Brother is 13 and has my old Iphone 3gs.

 

[nixer]

NO WAY! i wouldnt even get them a phone period!

 

[reefkoi]

LOL kids need phones these days just like we do! what if they were being harrassed/beat up at the mall or something tragic and hid in a corner somewhere with nobody to call........man I'd feel bad if I didnt have a phone for them and something terrible like that happened! I'm just saying........
do they need a $100 a month smartphone plan? I dont think so unless they work it off or something but hey if ya got some sort of a family plan anyway whats the diff :)

C

 

[Viva'sReef]

NO WAY! i wouldnt even get them a phone period!

why not?
Times have changed...and like reefkoi mentioned what if something happened and they had no way to contact you? I would gladly pay for piece of mind

 

[salmonshutters]

make them work for it, they will appreciate it more. I always had to pay for my own cell phone and didn't get my first one until high school. I was just fine without it at that age, so I don't see why they would need it. I agree with times changing but if they need a phone they can have one that can call me or 911 if needed. Just my opinion.

 

[Captain Nemo]

WHAT?!?!?!? I dont even have an iphone......... but i am on verizon. LOL

 

[EliteReefs]

WHAT?!?!?!? I dont even have an iphone......... but i am on verizon. LOL

Haven't. You heard? Iphone is on verizon now
Makes chosing the iphone or droid 2 even harder now. Can't go wrong either way though

 

[mfinn]

LOL kids need phones these days just like we do! what if they were being harrassed/beat up at the mall or something tragic and hid in a corner somewhere with nobody to call........man I'd feel bad if I didnt have a phone for them and something terrible like that happened!

C

I agree with the need for a kid to be able to call for help, but in this day and age, what if the reason they were being attacked was because of that big beautiful iphone.
I hear about kids getting beatup for a ipod.

2 of my grandkids do have cell phones, 2 do not and 3 others are under 3yrs.

 

[Paul_N]

I think 12 is ok age for a phone/smartphone. My 15 yo got his when he was 13 so that is the house rule for our 12 yo and we are sticking to it...:xd: We just don't want him thinking he gets something just because everyone else has it. The one thing I feel bad about is kids do not call each other on house phones these days so all his friends are texting back and forth except him. He only has 9 more months to go....lol. The other thing you need to be careful with smartphones and ipods with wifi is your 10 or 11 yo can surf the net in private and you can't see over his shoulder. Also the new ones have the face to face with the 2 cameras for video chatting....another thing to be careful with.

 

[mcmillion050804]

I see nothing wrong with it. It is peace of mind.

 

[austinh]

sure why not, like most people have said they would be stuck if they were in a situation where they needed a phone and didnt have one...and if you can afford to get them an iphone then go for it

 

[Rayzback]

My daughter is 12 and she has an iPhone now. I think here first phone was a two button Firefly at 7.