Gozit

I only got my first smartphone in April 2010, so I've technically only been smartphone engrossed for 4.5yrs

SDDep

My ancient 4 is basically used as a large Ipod that also does text and internet.
Usually in that order.

Gozit

Same with all my smartphones. Hence why I want to try the data only plan with the 6.........

Oink

Greenhill

Ham-handed.

hahaha

Greenhill

Gozit

Dashie

I'm genuinely curious - where do teenagers get all this money from? Both for the gadgets and the plans superior to any reasonable usage requirements (not sure why unlimited data is required on a device that can use the household wifi for example...) They can't be working, because they're spending all of their time on Facebook and questionable internet fora - do the parents cough up? How do the parents afford it? I know I couldn't...

SchnookoLoly

FFS we are not having this unschooling conversation again. :P

I definitely still think kids should be sent to school etc, what I meant was that today it's just incessant, there was an escape when you came home from school. My bullying was only during school hours. I had a respite when I came home. Now it's 24/7. That terrifies me.

Quite right. Our first family computer was in the basement, in a big open space, and often my aprents would watch TV in the basement and they could see the screen. There was no secrecy with the computer. I did eventually get a computer in my room but mainly because I was a huge nerd as a kid and practically begged for it - it did NOT have internet or anything on it. I use it to write school reports etc. (And I messed around with all the settings, hehe.)

This is totally true. Two thoughts to add.

First, there's no concept of 'researching' anything anymore, or having conversations debating a particular topic. There's no curiosity anymore. Have a question about something? Just google it and get the answer in 4 seconds. No one has to remember anything anymore. "Who was in that movie?" and then a big roundabout trying to figure it out... now it's just "oh, google it." I'm not even that old, and I remember going to the library and looking things up in the encyclopedia for projects etc. Those days are gone.

Second, people tend to live their lives through their phone, and honestly, it's just sad. People are obsessed with taking pictures of where they are and then sharing it immediately, instead of enjoying it. I remember being in London for New Years a few years ago, watching the gorgeous fireworks display ... and then I looked around and there's everyone taking pictures and videos of the fireworks, and watching them through their screens... the pictures and videos turn out awful anyway (and who wants 500 pics of fireworks?!), and then they just end up missing it! There's something to be said for the days of film, where you got to take 24 pictures, so you had to pick and choose what 24 pictures were worth taking.

Christ... that means you got your first phone when you were 10 and a half. I got my first cell when I was 16 - a very basic one, at that. I had to bargain with my parents to get it. I was a nerdy kid, so I was actually pretty interested in the gadgetry side of it... I struck a deal with my parents that if I finished Grade 10 with a 90 average, that I'd get a cell phone. I got a 91, and Dad took me out the day after report cards came home to get my new phone. I had this bad boy:



Snicker. Awesome.

sharkus

Love the 5190, I had one in blue as my first phone, was great.

I think kids are far too connected (in the sense of device to device stuff) and that's not good. It could be progress in some ways, but not in a lot of others.

I do like my iPhone 5S, particularly the camera. I'm not into selfies, I'm not that vain nor an attention whore, it's for taking pictures of my son when we are out and about. Not everywhere we go, and not all the time, but when a moment presents itself, I'll snap a couple of pictures. If we're out on a trip then it saves having to take a camera with me as I already have one on my phone. In addition, I don't have a landline anymore, so my phone is my primary contact method, be it ye olde style phone call (I wonder if kids know what a phone call is? ), or text / email.

Sally Redux

You just have to cough up. And they're not even nice to you.
What I find surprising about my kids is that they have access to the whole world's information, but are stupendously poorly informed on current affairs and, well, most things really.

Also, although everyone has smartphones, they can never organise social events.

Shard

...but were you well informed on current affairs at their age? Surely they have more pressing things to concern themselves with!

Sally Redux

I am talking about the most basic knowledge about how the world works - yes I was much better informed than they are.

Gozit

My mum and dad pay the whopping $72.50/month mobile bill. In exchange, I call in about once a month to loyalty&retentions, and try to lower that bill and/or get more features for the same price. But I buy my new phone(s) when I want them. The money comes from savings, which comes from xmas gifts, the crapload of $$ I got from my confirmation (only benefit of having an excessively religious grandmother ).



I agree :-(

We had this too. In our old house when I was quite small we had dial up internet. Then we got cable internet and one laptop. After a few years I begged and begged and got my own laptop (which my brother started to use all the time, grr , but then I got another one ) and a Wi-Fi router (the bad boy WRT54G )



Really helps with stupid courses where I can't be arsed to care enough.

With all my smartphones and gadgets, I am NOT like this. I hate taking pictures unless I truly think "yeah this is worth it" . My camera roll is filled with screenshots of funny posts on FB and tumblr My parents got pretty irate when I came home from Malta with about 50 pictures, and from new York with maybe 25.

No no, when I was 10 and a half, I got my first smartphone. iPhone 3GS
About 2 years prior to that, I got my first phone, a Samsung flip phone. My parents were going to make me keep the flip phone but then they realised that
a) They'd have to ask me how to use their shiny iPhones half the time anyways
and b) I'd always be pestering them to use theirs instead of my crappy flip phone so they got me one too.

As for 90 averages in exchange for items, I've given up on that. I find it easier to just buy it myself

Gozit

I am a perfect example of the contrary. But I know I'm in the very small minority when it comes to people my age.