Does your teen have an iPhone/smartphone?

Does your teen have an iPhone or smartphone?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Other- comment please


Results are only viewable after voting.
Mine got data when they were willing to pay for it...they could choose to pay a year at a time from their summer job or pay it monthly, due on the first of every month. It is good for them to learn to pay something regularly and while we felt it was a necessity to have a phone, we did not think that data was...so we were not willing to pay for that.

This.

DD is 24, she moved out last year when she had saved up enough money from working full time to do so. DS is 22, has a part time job and is in college. DD is 18, starts college this fall, was working part time but not sure about this fall so she started getting an allowance again. They each pay for their own data plan, that was part of the deal in getting the smartphones. The 2 older ones also pay the add-a-line fee of $10. We have 5 lines, 4 which are smart phones with 2.5g data each, unlimited talk & text for about $170/month with T-mobile. DH has a 15% discount through his employer. The amount will go up starting this month or next, both DDs upgraded their phones last month and we are no longer under contract, they will pay $20/month for 24 months for their new phones. Their choice. No way we were paying for that.
 
We just got our daughters smart phones yesterday. They are 18 and 20.
 
DS14 has had his iPhone for about a year. DD13 just got her own iPhone a couple days ago. And DD11 and DS8 share an iPhone.

The rule is its my phone I pay for it you are aloud to use it until you act irresponsibly with it. I get any passwords you have on the phone and am free to snoop when I want. They've been warned.
 
DS is 15 and we bought him an iPhone 5 this past Christmas. We made him use some of his Christmas money to buy a Lifeproof case for it. He is involved in many sports/after school activities and does not have a job right now, so we don't mind paying the bill. Once he starts working, he will be responsible for helping with the cost. I monitor his usage of Facebook, Instagram, texting etc. to make sure they are being used appropriately.
 

Most of the comments are people saying their teen doesn't have one so I thought I would add the flip side of the story... My 11 and my now 8 year old both have smart phones. My 11 year old had a phone at the age of 4.. her dad and I were divorcing and I wanted to make sure she could call if she needed anything when visiting with him.... it was the cutest phone they stopped making called a "migo" had 4 buttons, programmed to call me, her dad , her grandma and 911. Anyway the girls both have gotten hand me down smart phones from when dh upgrades his....they use it to call/text friends check weather and their email (which is pretty much just grandma)etc... and they enjoy using them to take photos but not too much else - and I'm happy with that!
 
DS14 has had his iPhone for about a year. DD13 just got her own iPhone a couple days ago. And DD11 and DS8 share an iPhone.

The rule is its my phone I pay for it you are aloud to use it until you act irresponsibly with it. I get any passwords you have on the phone and am free to snoop when I want. They've been warned.

Those are our rules also!!
Dh and I have iPhones as well as DD's 14 & 16. They had regular phones for a year and had to prove they were responsible with them. They got upgraded to IPhone 4S for part of their Christmas gifts this past year. Ds 12 got a phone also but just a regular cheapy one with text only. I like being able to see where my oldest is now that she is driving...gives me piece of mind!!!
 
Both of my younger kids have a phone. They just got them this year and they are DS12 and DD13. They are not smart phones. They are touch screen phones but not smart ones.

I'm not paying $30 a month per phone so that they can have a data plan on the phones.
 
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DD got the Iphone4 in 8th grade for Christmas. That year she wanted a cell phone for Christmas and an Ipod Touch. The Iphone made more sense. We set firm rules and I can happily report she has followed every single one. We've never had overages, she monitors her data and is very responsible with it. For her 16th birthday we upgraded to the Iphone5.
I haven't regretted it at all. And to be honest, if she gets rude or doesn't take care of her responsibilities her "currency" is absolutely that phone. It doesn't happen often but if I say "that grade comes up or the phone is mine".. the grade comes up. Works for me.
 
I'm about to me a senior in high school, and I had an Android. I got it for a penny through Amazon! Way better deal than an iPhone. I got it fall of my sophomore year.

My sister is going to be a freshman and she really wants an iPhone, but isn't getting one for two reasons. Mainly, her current cellphone is almost always dead or lost. It's basically useless. Which is really frustrating when we need to reach her; we always have to try and guess what friend she is with. If you can't be responsible with something basic, you're not getting the fancy/expensive thing. Also, she has an iPod touch and has been irresponsible with the usage (drama and secrets and whatnot :rolleyes2).
 
DS14 has had his iPhone for about a year. DD13 just got her own iPhone a couple days ago. And DD11 and DS8 share an iPhone.

The rule is its my phone I pay for it you are aloud to use it until you act irresponsibly with it. I get any passwords you have on the phone and am free to snoop when I want. They've been warned.

Adding to this - mine knows I can, and will, read every message. She also asks to add or delete apps, and the phone is parked on MY nightstand every night.

If we've ever had an issue with behavior (which is usually few and far between), she loses access the phone for a day or two.
 
DD16 has a Samsung Intensity 2 (or 3?) dumbphone with unlimited texting. She uses tons of texts (8-10 THOUSAND every month). She isn't really interested in having a smartphone because she hates the touch screen keyboard that goes along with a smartphone. If they built an iPhone or a droid with a slide out keyboard, she'd be first in line for it. :rotfl2: She uses my old iTouch or her laptop for any online stuff she wants to do or apps she wants to play with.

I do think that in the fall we will be getting her a smartphone in the fall or whenever this phone dies, simply because there don't really seem to be any options out there anymore for phones that aren't smartphones.
 
My 14 year old has a slide out for texting. I find it necessary for him to have a cell phone because we no longer have a home phone and he is often home alone. Also, he plays sports and has to call when practice is over, etc. He has an ipod touch and uses wifi at home for that. He is fine with it.
 
My daughter got her first smartphone two years ago, at 16.5. She paid for the phone ($200) and we paid for the service. This time around she's switched to her dad's plan (He's on sprint so still has unlimited data) and he paid for the phone and pays for her service.
 
My daughter has had an iPhone since she was 4. I don't like to share and it's easier when everyone has their own things. She reads books to get new apps and all of her friends can text her.
 
My daughter has had an iPhone since she was 4.
What does a 4 year old do with an iPhone? You mentioned her friends texting her. Are 4 year olds really texting today? My daughter is 17 so maybe I'm behind the times on this.
 
No, I have told my kids that when they can pay for the data plan they can get smart phones. Until then DBF and I have them but that's it.
 
Both my nephews have I5's. They started out with older ones when their parents upgraded. But both got I5 in the last year.

Honestly most of their school friends have them and that's pretty much how all those kids communicate. Very little phoning or email. Mostly texting and some face time.

I don't have a problem with kids having technology. I've worked with kids who are still computer illiterate (some because of finances but some because of parenting styles) and they are at such a disadvantage. I'm all for kids being at the highest tech level possible (with parental oversight of course) so that they can be on level with their peers.

I can't tell you how many times my nephews have taught me something about technology that I have to 'learn' that they know almost intuitively, because they interact on that level.
 
No. Our 2 oldest (15 and 13) have regular phones for texting and calling. They do not need a smart phone for me to find them. I call they answer, simple, I don't need GPS to tell me that. If I am GPS'ing them, then that means I don't trust them, and that enters into another conversation.

DH just got his very first smart phone in April, I have had one for years.

Kids will get theirs when they can pay for their part of their plan, monthly.
 
I voted other because one has an iPhone 4 and one has a basic cell with text capabilities.

Our DS(18) got his iPhone last year after he broke his basic phone. His old phone only had phone and text capabilities. He was due for an upgrade on our plan so we got the phone for very little. (except for the $30/month fee for a smartphone :faint:)

Our DS(16) still has his basic cell. I don't see any reason to upgrade it as yet.
 
In the not very distant future you will not have a choice- the only phones they will have for sale soon are smart phones, the dumb phones are being quickly phased out.
 

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