I got this question from the Vientianetimes newspaper, under the streetwise column. I personally think that it is not fair to ask only a group of people and summarize it in a limit space of their newspaper.
Therefore, here you are your chance to express your opinion, idea, suggestion about this topic.
If you are asked to express your idea about this issue, what will be your answer ?
that's a very complex question.. in France more and more children have mobile phone and this cause many problems.
they let the phone ring during classroom, they spend a lot of money with communication/SMS
If the parents don't offer a telephone to their children (too poor or just don't want), maybe the children will be "excluded" by their friends.... directly if the friends are really stupid (look down...), or indirectly just because they won't be as easy to join as their other friends... This is very stupid and sad situation. I don't know the price in other countries, but in France, offering a "2 hours of communications/month" package to a teenager is equivalent of multiply by 2 the pocket money I had when i was teenager (15 years ago, and my pocket money amount at this time was "middle class" compared with my friends).
but on the other hand, it's a very convenient tool for everyone..... why not for children?
Yes, it is necessary to not just allow but to buy your children as young as 10 yeaarsold to use the mobile phones. It is like allowing the chikdren to use the regular phone at home for communication, especially in emergency. In the U.S.. parents allow their children to use the mobile phones when they are away from home to get in touch with the parents any time if it is necessary.