Cell Phones have become less and less a luxury, to the point that people say they don't know what they would do without one. As an adult, that's fine. Spend your money as you'd like. However, I do not think that kids need cell phones. Kids these day are exposed to way to much information and try to grow up to fast. With texting, picture sharing, and face-time, it is almost impossible for a parent to have a good understanding of what their young kids are really doing or saying to one another anymore. Kids should be doing homework, not texting their friends.
It bothers me to see kids talking on their cell phone. You are nine years old...who are you calling, other nine year olds? What do you have to say to them that can't wait? Parents need to wake up and realize just how dangerous it is letting a pre teen have all the freedom that cell phones posses. It is very easy for a young kid to abuse their cell phone privileges and be persuaded to do foolish things such as rack up thousands of texts a month which sends the bill through the roof, or talk to their friends at any hour of the night without their parents knowledge, or send inappropriate pictures and video of themselves and having these pictures end up on the internet for all to see.
If safety is the sole concern for a parent getting their child a cell phone, then they should get them a child's phone that allows calls only to specified numbers such as the parents, a grandparent, and the authorities, like the Firefly.
For me, the cutoff to getting a "real phone" would be when the kids can pay for it themselves, with money they earn (not gifts from Grandma). If they are responsible enough to work for one, then they are responsible enough to have one.
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