Is it right for a middle schooler to have a cellphone?

Question

In a week or so i will start middle school. Some of my buds are getting cellphones so they can contact their parents. My parents discourage the idea of a cellphone because they don't believe it is needed. I don't think i really need one but like everyone has one and, well, what is your option?

Answer 1

Yes. If you are doing school sports, riding the bus, doing many after school activites, you need one for emergenices.

But if you don't need it and your only purpose is texting your friends, no.

Answer 2

I think the cellphones that are only capable of dialing numbers (i think there are 4) that are set by he parents are a good idea. So they can get ahold of you and you to them. And usually an emergency number. But to have full capabilty is not a good idea for your age. Too tempting to have the option of just being on the phone with your friends when you are probably supposed to be doing something else!

Answer 3

it's common for middle schoolers to have cell phones but it's not needed. but later on in your middle school career your gonna find out that it's really helpful when you have a cell phone. like in 8th grade i'm going to Washington D.C for 3 days. you should really have a cell phone to contact your family and call your friends and ETC.

Answer 4

there are a lot of junior high students that are spoiled, esp. in my class. I am the only child (i should be spoiled) but i don't have a cellphone (i really don't need it) and i don't even have a video game system!!! WTF??? No PS3, no Xbox, no NOTHIN' expect for this stupid computer  

Answer 5

ofcourse, i am in middle school and I have one, it is fine, but do not let teachers catch you with it! LOL!

Answer 6

you should get one. there might be an emergency at school when you need to contact your parents. you can also make a promise to your parents that you won't call anyone else besides them.  

Answer 7

yeah i think its fine

Answer 8

This is a decision you make with your parents.  "Everyone has one" is not a reason for YOU to have one.  But there are several "youth" cell-phone plans that make it easy for you to contact your parents (and, of course, emergency services if they are ever needed.)  For example, Verizon has something called MiGo (I think) where you just program like 4 numbers into it, and that's all.  I think it's a good idea for kids to have them, but it's up to your parents.

Answer 9

Tell them how responsible you are, and do chores for them

Answer 10

My parents got me one and I use it all the time to call them. I belong to a lot of clubs and I have to call them all the time when a meeting is canceled or the meeting has ended and i also use it to call them after tennis practice and a lot of other things.  

Answer 11

I had one in elementary school (Grade 6) because I'd be on my own after school sometimes and my mom thought it'd be safer if I had one.

I think it's only worth getting one if you really need it.

Answer 12

Yesterday, I read in a believable magazine that regular use of cellphones increases a person's risk of brain tumours by 50%. And that's only in the last few years, after cellphones were invented.

They also were saying that the earlier a person starts using them (especially younger people, whose brains are still forming), the stronger the effect seems to be.

Answer 13

I have one for my son.. it is a prepaid phone so we can control his usage but I got it for him because he will be getting off the bus alone and will be home alone for a little bit after school.  He is only to use it to call us.  

Answer 14

I got a cell phone in fifth grade because i had so much after school practices. I suggest not getting the hot, new, cool phones because they can really get damaged. At least for your first phone. I called it my "training phone" because I could drop it all the way down the stairs and it only had a tiny chip in the paint. So get a cheap durable one for your first one.

Just convince your parents that you won't go over your minutes and set some limits with them and they will say okay.

Answer 15

yes its fine

Answer 16

I don't really believe it's needed.  It's stupid IMO, and plus, you're like 11-12 years old.  That's way too young to have a cellphone.  Just wait till you're in eighth grade.