My parents will NOT let me get a phone. How can I get one?

Question

My parents will NOT let me get a phone. How can I get one?

asked May 28, 2022 in Technology by Noshii (220 points)

Hi, I'm Noah, a 9-year-old boy living in Charlotte, NC. I am here because my parents will not let me get a phone. Even offering to pay for it 100%, they refuse to let me. I still do not know why. I've even asked for a literal Nokia 3310. They still say no. I use my computer an offal lot. That's because: I don't have an iPad. I don't have an iPod. I am stuck to all of the 2-year-old Elmo apps, and that rubbish. I had to reset my laptop even to open Microsoft Edge. I have asked them if I can use it with max restrictions. THEY STILL SAY NO. I also explained that it would be used for emergencies only, and they still refuse. Even if it's a car crash with my parents, they still will say no. Even if our school is on lockdown! STILL NO. I try and work myself down to a smartwatch. Still don't get anything with cellular connectivity. By now, they're saying, "Shut it, little #####!" This is getting more annoying than needed. I ask if we can start a hand-me-down process. Still no. And so now, this is getting overwhelming. I think, "why don't I just give up on this dumb process.." I have begged day and night for a phone. Even if it is one million years old. (that was a hyperbally sarcastic phrase.) I still am begging, I have given them a million reasons. "Mom, I won't do ...bad stuff, I'll use it in emergencies if at school, etc." It's still a no. They don't give a "fish." Thus I am much more angry than needed, due to not having one, even after 2 years straight of begging for one. I am not trying to be greedy or anything, but, we could at least work out a smartwatch deal. So I talk back to my mother. Me: "Mom, if you are able to spend £1,788 on your iPhone 13 Pro Max, then it mustn't be an issue for me to get a flippin' £22 watch."

Mom: "How dare you talk back to me! Now you don't get your computer until you get your driver's license."

Me: "Pardon me?"

Mom: (repeats herself)

Me: "Ohh... I get the moral now! Being a kid sucks!"

Mom: "No, that's not what I was trying to say-"

Me: "Act like it!"

And that's how it all went.

commented Dec 16, 2022 by Doglover1 (15.6k points)

commented Mar 14, 2023 by Zoe

commented Mar 29, 2023 by Andre_Dragon (390 points)

commented Jan 12 by bella

commented Jan 20 by GirlOnline (6.3k points)

Look, I don't want to be mean or anything so hear me out.

I am better at tech than both my parents combined. Oh, what makes that even better is the fact that my mum runs customers and digital in the water company that provides to the entire south west of England. So yh, not to boast but I'm good at tech. So looking at this evidence I didn't get my first iPad till I was 9 and that was a school one so it doesn't really count cause I couldn't do anything except you school work. I got my first proper iPad that I could do stuff on when I was ten and even then a lot of things like YouTube and social media where banned. Now I am twelve I got my first phone for Christmas after begging for years. I have wanted a phone since I was 5 because I'm just really passionate about tech.

My response to every time my mum said no was, 'can we talk about it'. We made a plan for all my tech and when I'd get it and she even allowed me to choose which phone. I got the Samsung A14 because she said I had to save half if I didn't want to get her old phone and yh, that's it. Another thing I'd recommend is to talk to your friends. I'm just saying. If 2 people in your class have a phone because their parents have divorced and their mum/dad live really far away than they have a phone for a specific purpose. If someone in your class has a phone because they have a medical problem than think of how it can help them. If someone in your class has to walk 15 mins to get home everyday when it gets dark than a phone is really just a good reassurance to their parents. Another thing is don't exagerate. I exaggerated with ear piercings and it turns out that my mum was going to get my ears pierced that summer but because I lied/all my friends lied about EVERYONE getting their ears pierced again, I got set back.

Weigh up the pros and cons like pick up or safety or an emergency. Make sure you think about how it benefits them as well as making sure it benefits you. But also don't think to heavily about how it benefits them because then they will just think you are skating over the bad parts. So yh, that is my advice for pursueding parents and also, I'm going to say this now. MORE KIDS IN YOUR CLASS DONT HAVE A PHONE THAN HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Anyone who has a phone is going to want to show it of so it often feels like more people have a phone than actually have. It's quite annoying actually.

So yh, hope you listened

Girl online going offline

Ps.sorry my comment is so long

commented Feb 2 by captainmcsparkles

commented Feb 2 by annonymous :)

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commented Apr 23 by I'm so mad rn

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commented May 25 by Isyeon

commented May 29 by PhonePls_

commented Jun 1 by Sup

Hi I actually have the same problem with my parents. But to be fair because of not having a phone I lashed out and figured my way into YouTube even with restrictions. But know I now why the don’t won’t me to see it. Despite being angry I realized that the reason they don’t want me exposed to that content is because they love me and they know the hidden dangers that a 11 year old can’t see. I quote my dad “ sometimes kids just can’t always see the bigger picture and that is what parents are for”. At first I didn’t know what he meant then when I looked at the YouTube stuff I actually saw content that traumatized me. Like I was already scared of bugs but I was getting over it then I saw a video and I was so scared that I still haven’t gotten over that fear. So just remember parents love you and you know that because they have always loved you even when you were just in a stomach they have always loved you and always will. And when their methods may seem rude it is all just to keep you safe. :)

commented Jun 12 by susannah

im 16 and still dont have a phone. I've been left by friends at malls and other places with no possible way of contacting parents. it just feels unsafe to go anywhere without a phone at this point. i feel a bad person could see I don't have a phone and take advantage of that situation since they know I cannot get any help. i don't know how I'm going to even get a drivers license or start driving since I do not want to drive without a phone in case of emergency. i cannot imagine myself getting a job either since a lot of jobs require you to get an app of theirs or text your boss. I've had a lot of difficulties with school as well since we have had numerous assignments where we have needed a phone. sometimes we even have resources such as an online textbook and aren't provided with a real textbook and the only way to get the online textbook is by scanning a QR code. i think it is starting to get ridiculous and my mom is just being stubborn and holding onto her own beliefs. i used to have a phone, but it has been over a year. it made sense for me to not have a phone for a year due to my actions, however, I have learned very well since then and she knows this. i also can't imagine driving without being able to use a GPS or have that immediate safety device on me. she assumes I will text and drive however I am not like your average teenager even though I was a phone addict. i still know right from wrong and am able to control myself when genuinely needed. if I really wanted to talk to someone while driving, I could just call them and focus on the road. I've encountered many issues as well such as people giving me trouble at the gym I go to for not having the app and I explained that I don't have a phone and they held me from going for awhile and gave me a hard time. I've lost many friends as well since it can be difficult to maintain contact with me and I have 0 social life now. the friends I have had were too bothered by me using their phone to text my parents and all the difficulties they had to go through just to send me something. in this day and age we are involving, near everyone has a phone. we use ATMs which are digital and credit cards which are also used digitally. our world is evolving and at this point it feels that I am deprived of a basic freedom. i haven't left the house in a long time since if I am with a friend they might have to leave early and I am left alone. i am also scared of leaving the house without a phone as I don't know what could happen to me. i tend to draw in weird people for some reason and I know this. I've encountered many strange reactions in real life even at just a mall. i cannot imagine if I was left alone with an odd person and I had no way of contacting anyone. once even I was at my cousins party and there was a father there who was following me around and kept talking to me and flirting with me and was being very creepy. i could not contact my parents or anything and I felt very stressed due to this. many people I have told about my parents not letting me get a phone to think that my parents don't care about me or are crazy. I've mentioned everything that I have just mentioned to my parents but they still don't budge. my parents find every excuse in the book. i am unable to even submit any math homework and have had many troubles with grades due to this. I have good grades now, but every time I get zeros and have to have long talks with teachers for them to give me full points. each time I get a new teacher I have to explain my situation as well and they all look at me a bit strangely. this was fastly typed and sort of a rant so due to that this was not written very well, just to let everyone get an idea of it. I forgot to add but I also have a laptop and I can do a lot of things that a phone can do except use messages or take it places so it does not make sense.

commented Jun 23 by Themountaindewchipmunk2022

commented Jul 10 by anonymous

commented Sep 5 by Galaxy

commented Sep 15 by DemonSlayerFan

commented Sep 16 by StrangerThingsFan

commented Sep 16 by stitch fan

commented Sep 19 by Brooklyn

I'm 13 years old and I have a phone currently but SO MANY RESTRICTIONS. I'm in 8th grade and everyone had phones and TikTok and Snapchat and Instagram and all that stuff but my parents wont let me have any of those apps and take my phone randomly to go through it. Trust me, you don't want a phone right now, especially if it is heavily monitored. I'm not tryna be some weird old grandma that's lying about the perks of something but its true. My phone and all the monitoring and stuff that happens with it is the cause of my anxiety. I tried buying an Iphone behind my moms back so I wasn't monitored and I got even more restrictions which I didn't know was possible. I cant have it in my room EVER unless it is in a timed lock box with no way to open until the timer goes off that goes up to 90 hours. Anyways I'm going off topic but the point is that my phone has honestly caused addiction to it, anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and an awful relationship with my parents. Overall it's really not worth it. Sorry I doubt u will read all this and the grammar sucks ik. Hope this helps you feel better if you still don't have a phone tho.

commented Oct 9 by Thatoneweirdkid

commented Oct 10 by AdeleisAQueen

commented Oct 12 by 8th grader

I am 13 about to be 14 and I'm still asking for a phone. Its so annoying the little 6th graders have them and im in 8th grade rn. my mom got the iPhone 16 plus today and she still won't let me have her old raggedy rusty iPhone 11. It's actually so annoying she keeps yapping about how I need to learn more, but I literally would get extra credit in some classes for putting my phone on the phone collector thing in school. I feel like I deserve it because im mature and I also am always outside at the mall or at target with friends, and it is unsafe at this point to go out without a phone. I think she thinks im living in the olden days because she makes me walk back from the bus stop every day after school, which is like down 2 roads, and I have nothing at all and its so bad. Im also getting made fun of for it by some big backs in front of me in some classes its soooo annoying and I feel so bad asking to use my friends phones to call my parents or see the camera app, like its so rude and my mom just texts them to ask what im doing its so annoying but I can't just block them from her number because that is how I talk to them. Dont even get me started when someone asks for my number. Its so bad I have to give them my tiktok, and follow them like 8 hours later when I get home and get like 1 hour of screen time. Before, I used to think they secretly couldn't afford it and didn't want to say it, but I usually get any other stuff I want, and my mom just got the iPhone 16 plus today and now I know they just don't want to. I can also afford to get my own with the money I get from holidays and allowance and stuff, but I can't pay for a data plan or anything, and it is soo infuriating because my parents are supposed to help me fit in with kids at school and its so annoying. In social studies class, we have to put our phones in the phone tree on the wall, and mine was the only one that wasn't there and the teacher like shouted in front of the whole class "OH YOU DON'T HAVE A PHONE?" it was the most embarrassing thing ever and I felt so out of place like I wish I was homeschooled. Also important, I asked around 4th grade for a phone, they said no and I asked again in 5th grade, and my mom said no but she kept on saying "8th grade 8th grade" and she's denying it now and saying in like so many years its so annoying.

commented Oct 18 by CHunku

commented Oct 18 by anonymous

commented Oct 18 by Robotect243

No offense but I came here just to see if anyone agrees with me about not letting children have phones, and anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, over a phone is one of the most dumbest shits ive ever seen, this generation has become the most laziest people, Ive always wanted more resources to learn more and it's sad to see that many of you now have the crazy amount of resources to learn more, but you choose to text your friend, what a waste.

answered Mar 21 by GirlyGirl<3

OMG SAME I AM 11 I GAVE MY MOM REASONS LIKE NUM 1 I AM GOING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL ITS MY GRAD I SAID I AM A GOOD GIRL AND BARLEY GET IN TROUBLE SHE SAID THATS TURE!!!!! I ASKED HER WHY AND I GOT NO RESPONSE!!! I CLEAN I HAVE ALSOME GRADES AND GUESS WHAT ALL THAT WORK FOR A "No I'll get you one when I get you one" ITS SO FLIPPING ANNOYING AND SHE HAD ONE AT MY AGE BECAUSE GRANDMA TOLD ME!!!!!! I STILL NEED A REASONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

With that spelling you'll never get a phone, and I feel like your lying about the grades.

commented Oct 28 by Sl@yQueen2301

commented 3 days ago by kosie.ae (380 points)

same here! i'm in 7th grade and i hate not having one! i need one and i'm tired of having to use my friends phone all the time. i want an iphone to fit in and just because i dont want to the the only kid with an android. i like android a lot and iphones but i just want to fit in for the sake of being able to join groupchats. my parents keep saying i don't need one but it's so boring without one. i mean there are solutions like reading a book (which worked for me) watch videos with your friend (kind of annoying and boring since for you pages or for you, but you and your friend may have different one's) or just using your school chromebook or laptop. you can use the school wifi in the building or play games or something boring or on the bus, most school buses have strong wifi, but it mostly depends. i always have to use my mom's phone and it's so boring having like 1 hour screentime and not being able to call friends or do anything fun. i dont have any other devices. besides this school computer i'm using to talk to you guys right now, i broke (a kid tbh accidentally) my computer screen at a party and brought it there to fit in because i didnt have a phone and wanted to fit in and not be bored. my parents are african and strict and don't wont to get it fixed. and i'm the first born daughter and life is so hard. i get really jealous when people younger than me get phones while i'm the only one. people always asks if my parents are poor or something. but it isn't the price of the phone, if i was of age my parents would get me any new lastest phone if they like. (i'm not trying to brag- TT but i'm like mid middle class) but they think it's because i'm not being responsible. i'm just really upset that i have go on the bus, wait for a while and take a long walk home all bored while all my friends are on their phones with nice cool parents etc.

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Anonymous · Answer 1 · 2024-10-06T17:08:24+0000

No offense but you are way too young for a phone. I'm 12 and I have a phone and I deeply regret it. No kid should have a phone until 13, at least a smartphone. Flip phones are much better and maybe explain to them that you feel you need it in emergencies at school, sinse their is a recent uprise in school shootings. Also do not talk back to your parents like that??? That will just make them angrier and lower your chance of even getting a flip phone. I got my phone becasue of medical issues and having to be left at a hospital for up to 3 hours every week but you do not need anything other than a flip phone, offer to only have their numbers and for them to go through it regularly as in once a week.

Flxffi · Answer 2 · 2024-09-03T12:33:09+0000

commented Sep 16 by Izzy

commented Oct 4 by Cold

commented Oct 6 by Anonymous

GirlyGirl<3 · Answer 3 · 2024-03-21T14:41:41+0000

commented Apr 19 by GirlOnline (6.3k points)

commented Apr 24 by my parents are so strict.

commented May 16 by parents_r_ops

commented Jul 19 by my parents think its the 80's

commented 1 day ago by coco

HorseLover · Answer 4 · 2024-03-04T20:12:15+0000

commented Mar 13 by bruh

commented Mar 13 by HorseLover (63.1k points)

commented May 16 by anonymous

commented Aug 17 by anonymous

My parents will NOT let me get a phone. How can I get one?

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