Cell phones can quickly connect people, but do you know your child's network?
Problems
Technology / cell phones
The little device that does so much
Nowadays, it's almost embarrassing if you don't own a cell phone, and it seems that the age for owning such a device is getting to be younger and younger.
So, why do parents let their young kids own cell phones? It should be no surprise when I say that it's to stay connected with their child in case of an emergency. As strange as it sounds, a cell phone can also keep you at more of a distance.
Don't get me wrong, cell phones are great for the convenience of calling someone if you're in trouble. In the eyes of a teenager, a cell phone is also great for taking pictures, getting ringtones, watching videos, listening to music, sending text messages, e-mailing, and just calling all of their friends to chitchat.
Yep, it really racks up that phone bill too, but the important thing is that a cell phone makes a teenager feel cool. They have all the greatest technology at their fingertips! In a way, they feel more like an adult because they have the freedom to use these toy features. And when your child is happy, I bet you’re a happy parent.
So, what's the danger?
With the topic of cell phones comes the topic of trust once again. As hard as it is to understand for a parent, a cell phone is a great way for a teenager to show off their popularity, which makes them feel good. There is that small competition of not only having the most high-tech phone but also having the most friends listed in it.
A teenager is going to have a long list of friends; and I bet your phone number is not going to be on top. A cell phone provides instant communication between friends if they want to get together or set up a meeting. It's just a matter of clicking that green send button from a cell phone's contact list.
So what's the big deal? Let me ask you this: do you know everyone listed in your teenager's phone? Do you trust your teenager and all of the friends they hang out with? The phone is a great outlook for your teenager to talk to other people that are interested in what they have to say; and most of the time, this is without parental supervision.
You don't have the slightest idea what your teenager is talking about over the phone. If you ever have a chance to walk through a high school that is in session as an adult, you'll realize that you have no idea what topics teenagers really talk about nowadays and the lingo they use to speak it.
What are the talking about?
- Is your teenager setting up a drug deal?
- Are they giving the okay for their friends to come over and smoke because nobody is home?
- Are they listening in on where they can get some alcohol for Saturday night’s party?
Is it a real conversation, or is it trouble?
I know what you're thinking: these are pretty extreme actions to even consider my child ever doing! If you know your child well enough, you can trust that these conversations never take place, and you can ignore everything I just discussed.
However, if you are going to forget about everything I just said, you must be able to confidently say the following to me:
- I know and trust every “friend” my child talks to and has listed in their phone.
- When my child calls to check in on their location, I trust that they are telling me the truth when they say that they are at “so and so’s house and their parents really are home.”
- The pictures and videos sent and received on my child's phone are all appropriate and safe.
- Text-messages are solely used for the purpose of short and safe conversations and not cheating their way through school tests.
- If my child is in trouble, they will contact me over one of their “friends.”
I have always had to pay for my own cell phone bills from day one, so I can appreciate the limited features that I can afford. For the “cool” parent that pays for their own child's phone with all that fancy stuff, watch out. You may not only be paying for your child's high bill, but you may also be paying for more distance away from your child.
