http://www.freecellphoneswithcontract.com/cool-cell-phone-texts-messages/
Is it Safe for My Teen to Carry a Cell Phone? – Questions to Ponder for Teen Cell Phone Use
When I was 12, all I wanted was the newest David Cassidy record. Lately my 12-year-old daughter has been begging me for her first cell phone. Her mantra is that it will “make her safer.” After giving this some thought, I decided to research the safety aspect of getting her this luxury item, a cell phone.
The most practical aspect of buying a cell phone for my daughter was her ability to contact me in case of an emergency. This does not include running out of money at the shopping mall. This sense of security allows me to give her more freedom, within our set boundaries, and assures me that she can reach me at any time, for any reason. But several questions remained.
First of all, who was going to pay for the mobile phone? Would she use allowance money or money from babysitting and her potential summertime job? Cell phone use can become quite expensive if it is not monitored frequently.
How was the cell phone going to be used? I know that cell phones are now used for bullying fellow classmates, cheating on exams and organizing the overthrow of small third-world governments. Should I ask her to use this only for emergency purposes or put a limit on the friends she can call?
We need to discuss her use of the mobile device at school. Many schools now have strict policies on the use of cell phones on campus. Ringing cell phones are disruptive during class and texting teens are probably not paying much attention to the math lesson.
A big fear I had was text messaging. I’ve heard recently about some of risque text messages that teens are sending and receiving. I was sure an adult conversation would be needed to explain to her why this was inappropriate behavior. A study found that one in five teens had sent or posted a naked picture of themselves. My daughter would need a reminder that these photos remain forever and may come back to haunt her in a college school application or future job search unless she plans on a “Girls Gone Wild” career.
One of the merits of getting her the cell phone was my ability to track her whereabouts using the GPS feature on the phone. So now when she calls me to tell me she’s home, I can actually check from work to see that she has arrived safely.
After listening to numerous educators, kids and parents, The Wireless Foundation, CTIA-The Wireless Association and its members have developed the “Be Smart. Be Fair. Be Safe: Responsible Wireless Use” campaign (www.besmartwireless.com). They offer simple tips to assist parents begin a conversation with their kids about mobile phone use.
Since this was a pretty big-ticket expense, I want to make sure her cell phone is securely protected from damage. We all remember how her tape recorder ended up in the bathtub. After a quick online search at www.funfriends.com, we found a delightfully cool cell phone cover in the shape of a pink dog. My daughter was able to clip the plush cell phone accessory to her backpack using the heavy duty key-clip attachment. Now her phone is secure from drops and dings and will hopefully last awhile.
At least until the conversation about driving occurs.
About the Author
Kenly Taylor is Social Marketing Director for Fun Friends, Inc. (www.funfriends.com). Kenly is a leading expert in the use of social media for large and small businesses alike. She authors a world recognized blog and a TV podcast series that she directs. Kenly has penned over 20 publications for major magazines and online resources.
Free 411 info – Text message Google on cell phone
|
|
Pantech Pursuit II Phone, Pink (AT&T) $199.99 Ideal for customers looking for a simple yet feature-rich messaging device, the Pantech Pursuit II quick messaging phone for AT&T features a cool and compact pocket-friendly design that slides open at the bottom to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The Pursuit II boasts a 2.8-inch touchscreen, full HTML browser for PC-like web browsing, pre-loaded social media apps on the home screen for one-touch ac… |
|
|
HTC Rhyme Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) $599.99 Offering a smart, elegant unibody design with every detail carefully crafted to deliver a unique sensory experience, the Android-powered HTC Rhyme for Verizon Wireless features a fast 1 GHz processor and beautiful 3.7-inch multi-touch display. In addition to Android, it also offers the next-generation HTC Sense user interface experience, which includes quicker startup times from hibernation mode … |
|
|
Samsung Admire Prepaid Android Phone, Grey (MetroPCS) $94.99 Specifications Videos The Samsung Admire for MetroPCS is an Android-powered smartphone packed with amazing pre-loaded features. You can access the internet with mobile web, enjoy your favorite music and videos, and get GPS directions right from your phone with MetroNavigator. The extremely popular Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” operating system is smooth, fast, and gives you access to over 250,000 Andr… |
|
|
Clue Secrets and Spies $2.30 In CLUE: Secrets & Spies Edition, players take the role of a top international spy tasked with infiltrating the Criminal League for Ultimate Espionage to stop its evil scheme for world domination by intercepting the nefarious Agent Black. True identities of Agent Mustard, Agent Scarlet and crew are kept secret as players work independently to complete missions by using clues from the game and real… |
|
|
LG LX 160 Prepaid Phone, Blue (Kajeet) $79.99 A full-featured flip phone that’s packed with goodies, the LG LX160 for Kajeet helps you stay connected via voice, e-mail and text messaging, and Web access. Easily pocketable and featuring dual LCD screens, the phone also features Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree devices, voice dialing capabilities, speakerphone, and up to 3.5 hours of talk time. It works perfectly with Kajeet’s kid-friendly … |
|
|
Samsung SGH-M300 Prepaid Phone, Red (Kajeet) $69.99 A full-featured flip phone that’s packed with goodies, the Samsung M300 for Kajeet helps you stay connected via voice, e-mail and text messaging, and Web access. Styled with smooth, rounded lines and a mirrored finish, this rose red clamshell-style model includes an external OLED screen that displays current time as well as caller ID. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree dev… |
|
|
‘N Sync Hotline Fantasy Phone and CD-ROM Game $2.48 If you love *NSYNC, and who doesn’t, then you’ll love Infogrames’ *NSYNC Hotline Fantasy Phone & CD-ROM Game. Play 5 totally *NSYNC games including: Quick Change, Bowling, Make-A-Move, Trivia, & Charity Challenge. Take your Phone with you and get surprise calls Receive secret text messages from the guys Ask them questions in the Answer Hotline game… |