I agree with you whole heartedly. We use my sons phone and ipod as bait for desired behavior, they are a priveledge not a right. I have parental controls set and I review e-mails and text messages. He knows if I find anything inappropriate, those priveledges are gone. I also had the camera on his phone disabled and blocked any picture or video messages from being sent or received. They are kids and need our guidence on proper phone use.

If you would just instil values and morals you wouldnt have to be a phone nazi and block them from texting at school or pic texting. I grew up in a home where I knew I would face punishment if I was doing wrong so I didn't do much wrong. I texted during school hours: between classes, lunch break, when I didn't have work to do etc. I had great grades, my laziness affected my grades more then my phone. My grandmother would looked at who I was texting and at what times but never said anything unless my grades suffered.

It wasn't until I bought my own phone that I started pic texting and trust me you children see worse on the internet and tv then is being pic texted. Stop being over protective and ridiculous and just instil ethics, work value, respect etc because one day you wont be able to control your kids.

I am trying to instill values and morals in my son. Didn't you hear about the cases of kids sending out nude pix of themselves to boys they like? All the kids had to do was get one of those pictures and they were up on charges of child pornography even though they did nothing more than opening a picture sent them. That is why I have picture messeging blocked. You can teach your kids it's wrong but that doesn't stop someone else from sending to your child.

Here is a novel idea...how about DONT GET THEM CELL PHONES!!!!! they are kids there is nothing that cannot wait until they get home to talk about. Just because "everyone else has one" doesn't cut it. Be REAL Parents and stop buying them the things you complain about them using!

I never saw worse on TV or movies than I did on my cell phone. I would have hated my parents reading my txts and looking at my pictures, but it would have benefited me in the long run. I was just like the girls in this article. Teenager's minds are easily influenced and it's so much easier to fall victim to peer pressure over a text/picture message than it is in person. I was a completely different person on the phone than I was in person. It changes you. No matter how strong your values and morals are, they are easier to break down on a cell phone.

Samiam, my son participates in school sports and clubs. Having a phone means I can find him after school. It also means when there is a change of plans or an activity is cancelled, he can let me know. I also use it to text him to remind him to turn homework and such in. He has ADHD and is forgetful.

Wow samiam that is a bit harsh.

I am a single mom working full time +, 2 active kids, and I stay very involved in their lives. They wouldn't be able to participate in nearly the number of activities they do today without cell phones. They have rules and boundaries, but they are teenagers, teens push whenever they think they can and when that happens there are consequences.

How do you need a phone to participate in an activity?? My kids participate in numerous activities and not one of them has a cell phone.

My son has had his cell phone since he was 8 and he only gets it when he goes somewhere without me. I feel better knowing he has a phone and can call me if he needs to. You people are too judgemental

Judgemental about what?

You give kids an inch today, they will take a mile, no matter how much you talk to them.

I say kids don't need cell phones at all, until they are out of the house, and can buy their own.

SamIam, I think you live in a really small town. When I have to be 3 different places at almost the same time, we rely on being able to communicate with each other. Yes I survived without a cell phone as a teen, I wouldn't have wanted one. ;) I also got left stranded waiting for hours when someone was late picking me up.

On the flipside we love teens to text at night all night long. It makes us rich as the parents shell out money for unlimited texting with no controls. Who cares if they don't get enough sleep as long as we draw a paycheck. ........signed, the cell phone industry.

TamL- Well since you Assume things I guess you can call Tampa, FL a small town. There is only 1.8 MILLION people in the city limits.

That is exactly what my daughter did to control the time my granddaughter uses here cell and the internet. She shuts her phone off through Verizon from 9PM until 7AM and unplugs the internet at night so there is quiet time. Otherwise the kid would be up all night.

"Teens send an average of 34 texts a night (adding up to 3,400 a month) after going to bed — in some cases up to four hours after hitting the sack, found researchers from JFK Medical Center, in Edison, N.J."

Only if there are 100 nights in a month. 34 texts per night for a month adds up to 1020 - 1054. One has to wonder if the researchers from JFK Medical Center are stupid or the people who write these stories just don't pay attention to what they're writing about. Perhaps their mantra is to 'make it sound irresistible, even if it's wrong!'

it's the whole texting process... not just the 34txt-p-night. they're saying a teen texts 3400 times a month. i read that in other info about teen texting

34 texts a night after going to bed.

There are 100 nights in a month. Duh.

um, james..............most months have 30 nights...............

Edwa,

Read the article then think about it.

That's an average of 34 texts at night, alone.

What about the other 16 hours they are probably awake?

Some people have a brain, yet refuse to use it. Sheesh!!!!

OH MY GOSH, mrdano. Thank you so much! I had no idea there are actually about 30 nights in a month. I live on another planet, so I was completely unaware of this. But thank you for clearing that up!

And by the way, since you are clearly unable to detect sarcasm, this comment was also, indeed, sarcasm.

Congrats, you contribute to the cancer. Have fun with your failing grades and adhd

Actually, texting doesn't cause ADHD, but kids with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to things like this and video games.

First of all, I'm not a kid, I don't have failing grades, And i do not have ADHD.

Texting is just a way of communication. If you say texting is going to cause someone to have ADHD, then so is talking on the phone, or typing on a computer.

An unlimited texting plan is pretty cheap, actually.

Issues with kids/sleep/entertainment are bigger than just texting, and it reaches down into younger and younger ages. Parents that are in control - whatever that means these days - can set limits, take away privileges, whathaveyou. It matters some but not as much as it used to, thanks to the over stimulated white noise of American culture. Even kids raised with terrific values and without much tv, movies, advertising shill crap coming at them 24/7 a day long to be entertained non stop. They know its out there and they know they want it. Our grade schoolers have never had more than a basic clock radio in their rooms, and even that mundane gadget gets abused. We had to take away even the kiddie flashlights, when it became obvious they'd stay up quietly drawing or playing and then ask why they were exhausted the next morning. Surrounded by too much, too soon, overstimulation is hard wired into kids from day one now, no matter what parents say or do - short of locking them in a closet with no light. ;-) I fear for the nation, when I hear of little kids that already have a bedroom full of media - iPods, a computer, CDs, TVs, a phone, an XBox and a Wii. We have that stuff - most homes do, but it's downstairs and not in a kid's bedroom.

You speak the truth.

You speak the truth, as well...."just another example...."

I'm 56 years old and I've been hearing the exact same words for at least 45 years (that I remember). My parents said that their parents' friends all said the same thing too. "Parents these days are terrible. Back in my day, we did it right." Some things never change.

And remember they were barefoot because they only got 1 pair of shoes:)

Chris and Marika, I'm also the same age as you, and I agree with you. And Marika, you're right, society is changing and will change again. I do not begrudge our kids their cellphones, computer, etc., and I would never say they should never have been invented. It's all progress, and like almost anything, they can be used constructively, destructively, or just plain wasted. What does irk me though is the prevailing attitude that they simply couldn't live without these things or that they would be deprived if they had to. We got along just fine without them when we were kids. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to go back to the days of the horse and buggy and outhouses on 10 below zero nights. But even though I myself am addicted to my computer, I do not believe that my life would have been not-worth-living had they never been invented. I do not feel that I suffered socially because I never had a cellphone when I was a teen.

You're right queenie, I feel the same way. Why text? Call, me, talk to me, that's why you have a voice, and why we have language. It's a hell of a lot simpler to just press three buttons (or one if you use speed dial) then it is to type everything out. That's an e-mail, or a letter. Why do we use a PHONE to TYPE on? Just because we can? That is stupid. Simple is smart. Got something important to tell me? You're going to be home late for dinner? Press one button and speak to me. If I'm not there, leave me a voicemail, one of those much more useful inventions on the cellphone.

6 figures? Maybe the vocabulary, puncuation and spelling skills of 6th grader. Stellar example, 'perfesser'!

OMG..BFF...LOL...

Yeah...and use prolly in a contract proposal.

LOL

LOL Soop!!!! Good One, I was thinking the exact same thing when I read that post.

Now we're rollin'!!!

I see it as the bizarre evolution of language. First the post office, then land line telephones, cell phones, email, texting and now social media. It's all about communication and us humans thrive on being social beings. its funy taht sphelling relly inisnt as imporrtant as we thaught thouw : ) In fact, it's easy to tell if someone is under 25 now based on lack of grammer skills... If you can spell you must be some old dude!

Oh well, onward into the future! Can't wait until we all have gps and video chat... oh wait?

next time maybe, maybe spell 'grammar' right

22,000 texts a month are about 733 messages a day... Yeah, that leaves you plenty of time to pursue a PhD, then win the Gulf War and then take on Wall Street or wherever they're giving you that 6-figure pay.

Just sayin'.

Sounds like you actually have thought about life and your place in it, something unusual for someone of any age these days.

Still, one comment disturbs me: "Still, they (my parents) were not perfect in my upbringing."

My reactions: 1. Boo-effing-hoo. You didn't have "perfect" (in your eyes) parents. Congratulations. Join the rest of every other child. 2. Good luck when you have your own.

blc23,

No offense, but if you don't have children, you have NO understanding whatsoever about them.

Parenthood is something that is learned through life experience, not education, or reading books.

macaddict,

Too late I am offended. As a single 40 year old who has never been a parent, I have life experience too with children and often have the advantage of some distance so that I can still see both sides. I think that it is you that has no understanding of what a 40 single old can realize about humans including children and parents.

Long time singles can understand a whole lot more that we are given credit for by parents and it is a shame that many times I have witnessed parents being blind to really good impartial advice just because it came from someone who is single. We are all in the world together and we all can learn from each other, whether we are parents or not.

Texting is not my vice, but I have recently had to set some very harsh limits on my own self because I found that I can totally lose track of time on the internet, and to my amazement I found myself staying up way too late on the internet. Hours can disappear in an instant. The internet and social media can be very addictive. I disagree somewhat that tv can't be just as bad though, a similiar analogy for me is losing track of time while watching the Olympics or World Cup with 24/7 feed available.

So I can see the pull to the kids, but both adults and kids have to set limits on their time and allow themselves enough time to sleep. In the short-term, the bodies of kids seem more resiliant to sleep deprivation, where as the older adults get, the less forgiving the body seems to be. Adults have the advantage in that their bodies might not let them push as far. However, this is not a kid versus adult issue per say, adults that constantly interrupt their sleep for whatever reason, be it texts, tweets, following up on business, dealing with family drama, etc. will suffer due to sleep deprivation too. I do feel sorry for those that must have their sleep interrupted due to their jobs, newborns, sick relatives, etc., and I do understand what it is like to feel like there are not enough hours in the day, but I would guess that a lot of adults are guilty of not getting enough sleep due to less than important issues too, even if it is not texting.

Bad routines at any age can be unlearned or stopped and replaced with better routines. Getting enough sleep is not a problem only for texting teens.

I agree with macaddict. If you don't have any children of your own, you really have no idea what it is like to be a parent. People that have no children have no business telling those of us that do how to raise ours.

Soapbox.

Let me reiterate. If you don't have children, you have NO IDEA what it's like to have kids.

You know the little things, like being up all night with them when they are sick. Taking care of them when YOU are sick. Being there when they are scared, or are in trouble. Having them love/hate you.

Even the most well laid plans go wrong. Believe me, as a parent of 3, I know!!!!

I wish more parents would do this.

Collegestudent91

I beg to differ. My daughter was taught responsibility, consequences, and "morals" throughout her entire life. She is now close to graduating and seeking to be where you are. Peer pressure today is much greater than when I was in high school and probably even more than when you were in high school which I can only guess was probably a short time ago. Time changes quickly for these kids, peer pressure changes and they believe they can "hide" behind technology. You must be ever more vigilant now to protect your children from not only those predatory creeps, but also from themselves.

Today's parenting skills takes so much more into account along with responsibility and morals, but also safety, responsibility and the belief that "you are not invincible and you can be hurt by someone if you are not careful." Stranger danger has a brand new face in today's society for our kids. Today the stranger can be brought right into our homes, so we have to be more vigilant, check behind the bushes (reading text messages), look under the bed for the boogie man (myspace and facebook), look behind the texting or Facebook picture for the person that is truly actually there.

Kids today have a very hard time of growing up because society asks them to do so quickly and we as parents are trying to tell them to take it slow. They don't want to feel as though they are left behind. It is a tug of war of epic proportions today to raise a kid. The sit up straight in church, watch your manners, and don't talk to strangers (face-to-face) is so hard to get across. We only do what we can to save and protect our children.