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Should teens have smart phones?

By Maria Famakinwa

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There have been unending arguments whether or not it is right for teens to have smart phones.
Some people who are against the idea believe that giving teens smart phones would expose them to the negative side of technology and distractions. Others who support the idea believe that teens in our world today need smart phones to function socially and academically. The Hope spoke with some parents on the matter.
In the submission of father of four, Mr Olugbenga Olaniyan, the consequences of a teenager owning a smart phone outweigh the benefits. Hence, the need for parents to discourage the idea of giving their teenage children smart phones except for important reasons.
His words: “The risks of teens having smart phones is endless. Such can be exposed unnecessarily, especially where anyone can easily access all manners of items via the internet. Porn sites, gambling, fake lifestyle, and immorality other negative things are visible and free on the internet. It is wrong to expose them into acts that can cost them their promising future.”
When told that smart phones help teens academically, he disagreed and asked,”were students not doing well before the introduction of mobile phones? Let me also tell you that mobile phones have done more harm than good to the teens academically. Today, instead of students putting their brains to work, they want to consult Google for fast answer. That is why the level of our education keeps falling. Or can you compare the type of education our fathers had to what we have today? Yet there were no mobile phones then. Mobile phones, especially Android, are affecting our teenagers, distracting them and destroying their future.”
Sharing a similar sentiment, a mother of three and a civil servant, Mrs Victoria Ayanwande, opined that teens should not have smart phones unless they have gained admission into higher institutions. She said: “The risk of a teen using Android phone is unquantifiable, particularly if not monitored. Teens using smart phones, feel they have arrived, leading to peer pressure and lack of concentration on studies.
“If it is compulsory for a teen to have a phone, it should be a non-Android phone and with supervision. Today, you see our teens involved in internet frauds and riding flashy cars that their parents’ salaries in five years cannot afford. The most worrisome aspect is that they are misleading younger ones who now think that is the way to success.
“Doing the right thing at the wrong time always has painful consequences. Some Yahoo boys today are using their parents and friends for rituals. This is as a result of manipulating the internet negatively due to early exposure. I will never support that teens should own smart phones.”
Reacting differently, a public servant, Mrs Iyadunni Faloye, hinted that there was nothing wrong with a teen owning a smart phone. The woman who advised parents to encourage their children to understand how to handle smart phones said that the world is moving and teens cannot be lagging behind.
Her words: “Any parent who still argues against teens having smart phones is probably not in tune with the reality of today or bent on destroying the future of the teens. I was moved last year when I saw a boy of 13 years on television who came first in a contest due to his computer prowess. His elated father revealed that the boy started operating his Android phone when he was five. He discovered his talent and bought him a smart phone at the age of 10. Today, they have God to thank.”
When told that some parents disagreed because smart phones expose teens to porn sites and other social vices she said, “it is not enough reason to prevent teens from having smart phones because those with evil intentions will surely find ways of getting Android phones, with or without their parents support. After all, teachers in most secondary schools today often seize smart phones from students which their parents never bought for them because of the belief that it was wrong for them to have it at that age.
“Parents should understand that it is not easy to deny teens from using smart phones but they can only guide them. Even Federal and state governments now introduce computer as a subject for primary and secondary school students including practical to show that we are in the world of technology which we cannot shy away from. Instead of preventing teens from using smart phones, they should be sensitised to use such devices for their advancement” she said.
An architect, and a father of three, Mr Edwards Ilemobayo also argued that there was nothing wrong if a teen should own a smart phone. He said, “smart phone keeps the child connected to the world and abreast with the trends around the globe.
“Should I say because it is wrong for a teen to own a smart phone and refuse to buy one for my 17-year-old son who gained admission into the university last year or give him ordinary phone without internet because smart phones are not good for teens? The truth is that let your teens own smart phones but educate them on the dangers of accessing some sites on the internet.
“Let me make it clear that it is not easy monitoring teens, those parents who think their teens are not exposed to the internet are only being gullible because if they do not buy Android phones for their children, they have friends who are using Android phones. They only tell their parents what they want them to know.
“The only thing is to commit them to God’s hand because teenagers these days are smarter and mostly play on their parents’ intelligence. Definitely, it is not possible for any parent not to get a smart phone for his /her teen in higher institution to assist in learning. Though some condemned smart phone for teens as a distraction, some teens are excelling based on their knowledge of the internet. It is advisable we live in the world we are instead of denying our teens technological benefits,” he said

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