Kids with Cell Phones, How Young is Too Young?

An anonymous reader writes "CNet is reporting that the average age of a child receiving their first cell phone is continuing to drop. A report carried out last year showed that the average age of a child's first cell phone was just eight years old and is expected to drop closer to 5 years of age this year. The author raises the obligatory medical questions that have been argued about in adults for years. Just how young is too young for a cell phone?

Comments

Re:preprogrammed phones for kids?

[cayenne8]

"Kid is at school and a friend asks him or her if he can come over?"

Same thing happened when we were kids. But we used the phone AT the friends house. That was pretty much summer running rules. I'd leave early in the morning, and run around with all my friends in the neighborhood...we'd all be at one of our houses or the neighborhood pool. When really young, my folks had me call from wherever I was to let them know where I was at, etc. Most people had phones at their homes...also, it pretty much verified WHERE I was too.

No cell phones needed...

I'm more and more with others on this thread. When the kid is able to work, and PAY for their own minutes used....cool, they can get a cell phone.