Page 17 - The Edge Issue 7

Too
From phones to dating where should the line be drawn?
Young Story by Thien-Nhi Nguyen
Moving into a a a a a a a a a a a a a digital age is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a great advancement in in in in in our world Today everyone has some form of of technology with with them A 5 year-old walking around with with an an iPhone 11 however most of of us us consider ridiculous This brings up the the question: what age is appropriate for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a phone?
Rachel Perlman 8 was given her her first phone phone phone at at at at 11 She uses it it it daily to to to to to contact her her parents parents as as as well
as as as to to to to to keep in touch with friends and and to to to go on on on on social media Most parents give give their their child child a a a a a a a a a a a a a phone phone them and and ensure their child is safe “My parents intention for giving me a a a a a a a a phone was to to contact them them whenever I needed to ” said Perlman Perlman Perlman Perlman believes 12 is an an an an appropriate age to to to receive a a a a a a a a a a a a a a phone because of the the transition to to middle school however she thinks maturity also plays a a a a a a a a a a a a a role in in in deciding when a a a a child child should get their phone “Every child child matures differently ” said Perlman i i i i n n n n order to to communicate with Without a a a a a a a a a a a doubt social media media is is is a a a a a a a a a a a huge part of most teens’ lives Social media media helps teens teens keep up with with news and interact with their friends So So how do do we know when a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teen teen teen teen is is is is ready to to reach this milestone?
Jasmine Almeda 11 believes social media media is is is an an influential part of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teen’s life “Social media media is is is helpful because it helps you stay in in in in the loop You can hear about current events and listen to different people’s opinions ” said Almeda She started using social social media media the the summer before 7th grade This has helped her her connect with many of her her friends Although not all children are the the same Jasmine believes that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child child should be be be able to start start a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a social social media media account at at around around 12 years old “I think that around around 6th grade so so near 12 12 years years old old is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a good time to get social media because it it is is right before middle school school and and and and comes in in in in in handy for for connecting with friends at at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new school school and and and and staying updated ” said Almeda Almeda When asked about the risks and and and dangers of starting a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a social media account account Almeda Almeda stated
she she sets her her accounts to “private” so so so she she can regulate who sees her her feed “I believe that social media is is safe as as long as as you you you you you are are careful about what you you you you you post and how you you you you you you manage your your account account ” ” said Almeda “Especially if the account account is is public you you you you you you want to to make
sure not to post anything that can jeopardize your your future ” ” Dating is one of the the the the major events that help kids to to to show autonomy Many date just “for fun ” but others look for for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a serious relationship How would a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a parent know the the the right age for for their child to to to to to begin dating?
Julia Alward 7
has had an an opportunity to to to to experience this this major milestone but it it it it may not be be be as as as glamorous as as as it it it it seems She strongly believes that maturity plays an an an essential role in in in deciding when to to to to reach this this mark “I think most 7th and 8th graders are too immature sometimes ” said Alward She herself has admitted that she she doesn’t believe she’s ready Contrastly all of Erin Gaydar’s 10 relationships relationships have been smooth sailing thus far She She began dating at at at at at the age 13
and by 15 Gaydar Gaydar felt she was ready for longer term relationships relationships She believes that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teen should begin dating when they are stable in in in many aspects of their life such as as as as as academics clubs and and and family For Gaydar the the the age she she felt comfortable comfortable at at at at at was was 13
and and and she she has no regrets about it it “I was was able able able to learn from my experiences and and and and become become more more comfortable comfortable in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a relationship relationship situation Being in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a relationship relationship at at at at this age also helped helped me me me become become more more social and and outgoing ” said Gaydar In her her her her case dating helped helped her her her her in in in many areas in in in her her her her life It is is agreed upon that whether a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child wants to date early on on or or later in in in in their life life the the the the most important characteristics
they must show are maturity and stability 16
To Date? For For Social Media? For For a a a a Phone?