+9 votes
1.6k views
in Technology by (210 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.

by (15.6k points)
Hopefully this will help you feel better, because I'm 11 and don't have a phone!!!
by
Hey I didn't get my phone until I was in 8th but it was a flip phone and now 16 I have a Samsung A12 and it's the best you have to give it time
by (390 points)
Same with me i'm 13 and still only have a flip phone nokia that my parents control !!!!!!!!!!
by
bro SAME. i am turning 13 really soon and have 2 big trips to go to and i dont have a computer, phone, even a smartwatch. its ok, we understand you. dont feel bad! :)
by (5.8k 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
by
bro. just be a kid. go outside, play on the device you used to ask this question, bake, read, hang out with your friends/family, watch a movie or a show or something, play video games, play board games, etc. don’t worry about what people think of you. stay a kid for as long as you can, and try to make friends.

all because nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends. :) -luke bryan
by
your literally a child and your begging for a phone first you need to grow up into your teenager years and do nice things for your parents then mabye they would allow you. like what the hell your all kids and your worried about getting a phone. a phone is not all that you should just live your life live your childhood then start worrying when you are actually in the outside world. honestly you all need to grow up.
by (13.5k points)
boiiiii i have three phone wait no... four lol

and they are all working!!!
by
at least I have a dad
by
I feel kids should get phones when they become teenagers. When I was around 13, I used to explore a lot with my friends and my parents constantly texted me on my phone to check in on me and make sure I was ok. The phone helped my parents with their anxiety.
by

same! im 12 and my parents are as toxic af they threaten and abuse me every day! one time, my parents beat me up so hard i bled so much! plus, i need the phone for literal school and they still dont let me! they also pretended to be me bc i gave my group members my moms phone number and she pretended to be me in the group chat! like //big-eyes//! i  honestly just want to run away from home by this point.

by
Hey, I'm probably just like you..I keep asking for a phone and I still won't get one and I've been at this for years. But I've realized that it's ok to not have one. Even though everyone keeps showing off their iPhone 15s and their literally 13! ? But at least I have a friend that can help and build me up, like a true friend would. So now I know that phones can't even come close to match up to what really matters.

P.S my friend dosent have a phone either
by
Bro, All my friends have phones and i'm FREAKIN 12 ! YOUR 9. I don't even have a phone yet!
by
Its okay buddy. Im 17 and my parents won't let me buy a phone. Just be a kid as long as you can.
by
Yeah! Im 12 and the only kid in my class that doesn't have a phone!

PS- I only get to play games for 1 hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and only at four O'clock. My parents are dumb.
by
I didn’t get a phone until I was 13. I saved up to buy it, and I bought an IPhone XR. It’s the best for me rn. Start your own savings by asking your parents to sponsor a cashapp for you. Do chores and help out in return for money. Put it into your savings on cashapp and then save it for when your parents let you buy a phone.
by
Man you don’t even know bro
by (5.8k points)
Also, cool Syd? I love how you presume that a) it's always the dad that leaves and b) that just because parents are divorced you can't see both. My parents have been divorced since I was 7, they are really good friends and I see my dad whenever I want

It does help that my dad found an apartment near where my mum lives but just please don't assume that because I said if their parents are divorced it means that one of the parents walked put

Girl online going offline
ago by
I have rly strict Asian parents who wont allow any screen time whatsoever (on school days) Even after I finish my hw! Plus I don't have an apple watch or phone and I'm not getting either until I'm in 9th grade (I'm in 6th at the moment). I don't know what to do abt the situation.

Also Idk if its just me but its so aggravating seeing kids younger than you who already have a phone!



16 Answers

0 votes
by
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
by (5.8k points)
Maybe she did have one but I didn't get a phone till I was 12 and even then it was only a broken one of my mums. I had to save up for 3 months to be able to get a phone I can use properly.

Girl online going offline
ago by

YES YES YES!!!!! i am 13 years old and all i have is an apple watch!! she said i can't get a phone until HIGHSCHOOL!!!! i cannot handle this anymore bc kids make fun of me, and i just can't fit in bc of my stupid mother. don't even get me started on trying to get any apps or social media, my flipping mom won't ever let me until i move out. all my other friends have every social media platform you could ever dream of, and I'm stuck as an insecure teen, all because of my parents!! it's supposed to be the other way around, they should make me feel confident instead of self conscious. i don't know HOW i'm gonna survive the rest of my middle school and high school years.

0 votes
by (24.0k points)
I don't have a phone i only get one until I'm twelve ur parents seem well ummmmm how do I put it oh yeah RUDE.
0 votes
by (35.9k points)
Yeah, um, so…. I’m ALMOST 12 AND I STILL DONT HAVE A PHONE so I hope u feel better
by
i'm in 9th grade and don't have a phone you guys don't need phones in 5th grade
by (35.9k points)
Um, I’m in 6th
0 votes
by
Try sneaking to get a phone and hide it in your shed. If you can keep clean like if you get a trash bag when your parents are asleep
0 votes
by (21.2k points)

Ask your parents to get you a Pinwheel Phone.

0 votes
by
Parents, always dont want to buy you stuff and it sucks!
0 votes
by (1.3k points)

Hey man. You asked the question, so I'm expecting that means you want the REAL answer. So, do some yoga or whatever to get your breathing under control, and then open your mind as wide as you can manage, and consider the small possibility that you might, maybe, be a little bit wrong about some things, some times.

I'll give you a moment..

Ok. So, the title of your question was "My parents will NOT let me get a phone. How can I get one?" So that's what I'm going to focus on answering. The description was mostly just you venting to the internet, which you're allowed to do, although I wouldn't make it a habit--stuff like that can come back to haunt you.

1. Most importantly, respect your parents and be kind to them. You won't be able to comprehend this right now, but your parents are the most genuine supporters you will ever have. There is almost nothing substantial that you can do for them, but they don't care; they just love you, and absolutely anything that could make your life better long-term, they would do. 

If they are not willing to do something, it's because they are not convinced that it's the best option for the you that exists right now. Also, if you act like a brat every time the topic of XYZ comes up, then they'll actually be obligated to say no, even if they want to say yes, because teaching you that 'pestering and making weak arguments and empty promises' is a good way to get what you think you want would be irresponsible of them. 

So, man up and do whatever you have to do to keep your attitude out of conversations with your parents. The saying "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" simply means that being sweet gets the job done way better than being nasty. This applies to nearly any situation. No person has ever heard a mean or sarcastic comment and then replied, "you know what? Your bad attitude and rude remarks really changed my mind. Here's what you were asking for." If anything, a good argument is crippled by the tone, manner, and timing in which it's delivered.

You're creating a person to be every day, and then you're practicing playing that character over and over. You want that person to be someone that other people want to be around, not just because it's right, but because it's actually best for you and puts you in a better position to reap benefits, like approved requests.

2. You've obviously considered the initial cost of the phone. That's good, but have you considered the monthly cost of cellular connectivity? When you offered to pay 100% for the phone were you also implying that you would cover the monthly cost? What recurring income do you have that's sufficient to pay for cell service? If you have a recurring income at 9 years old that's not just a handout from your parents, then that would be very impressive indeed. Anyway, always remember recurring costs, taxes, and fees associated with things in general. 

3. What to do:

So thing 1 is: you need to make your main focus being the best person you can be, being content with what you have and where you are. Don't think, "what can I acquire for myself that will make me happy?" [spoiler: it won't]. Instead think, "what is it that I can do right here, right now, that will make the current situation better for the people around me?" [you'll be surprised at how happy this actually makes you yourself].

Thing 2 is: your parents have to want you to have a phone. It doesn't matter how much you artificially feel the "need" for a phone and put yourself through emotional turmoil over it. Your parents have to be having experiences that make THEM think, "hmm...if our kid had a phone then it would have been helpful..." and they have to have those moments more than once per month. You will not be able to just describe the possibility of these moments to them or desperately argue them into existence; they actually have to happen. Most of these moments will happen naturally over time. You don't have to try to generate them.

So the less you are stressing about getting a phone, the faster it will come about. The more you're fixating on it, the more likely you are to actually be standing in your own way. Also, phones are a major factor for many people contributing to low productivity, low happiness, trouble sleeping, excessively comparing themselves to other people, getting their personal data stolen/sold, fraud, cyber-bullying, and more. For every benefit to having a phone, there is at least one negative side-effect. My favorite times are always when I'm away from my phone and I'm enjoying a really cool project.

Finally, something for your parents to consider when they are ready is Gabb Wireless. They're supposed to address many of the valid concerns that parents may have with phone usage.

You'll be okay, and in a few years, you'll be looking forward to times that are free of electronics. People used to visit the internet to escape reality for a bit. Now people visit reality to escape the internet for a bit. 

"Actions speak louder than words" is another cliche you can remember. Don't try to nag your way into more privileges. Work and act your way into whatever responsibility you can handle and privileges will show up automatically. Your parents don't owe you anything. The world doesn't owe you anything. But, become a great person and your parents and the world will be eager to reward that kind of noble effort.

You got this, man. Get after it.

by (21.2k points)

The Gabb Phone is discontinued. The newer Gabb Phone Pro costs twice as much as the old one, plus it can't even do anything compared to the cheaper Pinwheel.

by

Yeah, I know one time I was looking at a catalog and I saw a little toy Phone, but when I read the reviews I was likeconfused_smile

0 votes
by
This is dumb, phones are acceptable at a certain age. It's up to the parents to decide. Do you dare talk like that to your mom? I know I will not get a phone till I'm 16. But I don't dare talk back to my mother like that! If being a kid sucks, you will have one heck of a life!
by (24.0k points)
Dang harsh
by
I won't get one till I'm 18 or 20
0 votes
by (523k points)
You could make a convincing slideshow (My go to solution to convince my parents to do/get something for me).

WARNING! MAY NOT WORK.

Recommendation: start with something small that you want like Minecraft for your computer (just an example) then work your way up to one for them getting you a phone.

Or just wait (I wanted a phone for at least 3 years before I got one)
0 votes
by (523k points)
You could ask WHY you can't have a phone and if it is something you can handle prove you will/won't do it (depending on what it is.) Or you could ask for a DIFFERENT type of phone.



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