Should you give your kid a smartphone?
By John Egan • Bankrate.com
Is it smart to give a smartphone to your kid? Well, the answer is about as clear as the cell reception in a subway tunnel.
Experts say you've got to consider the kid's age before putting a smartphone in his or her hands, but that there's no magic number. The real question: Is your son or daughter mature enough to handle the responsibility?
Also, you've got to take into account how your kid will be using the smartphone. Will it merely be a tool for your kid to stay in touch with you? Or will it go beyond that?
You also have to consider the costs. A study released in April 2014 by market research giant J.D. Power and Associates found that the average smartphone owner in the U.S. spent $202 buying the device. In addition, there's the monthly tab for calls, Web browsing and text messaging. In the U.S., the average monthly bill for cell service totals roughly $65, according to TelecomQuotes.com, but that figure excludes taxes and fees.
Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/smart-spending/should-you-give-your-kid-a-smartphone-1.aspx#ixzz3OevW8feX
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