The Great Cellphone Debate: What’s the Right Age?

We felt they needed to have cell phones when they started driving. Now, there basically are no pay phones out there and just about everyone who gets around independently needs one. It does depend on how responsible your child is with their things and their time. None of us have texting and we are all surviving. I've heard some bad stories about texting. Some kids are spending WAY too much time texting plus doing it during classtime (yes, they do even when they aren't suppose to have phones on). I think parents give in way too much to their children. I think the cell phone should be an issue of safety for the child not a "must" for the social aspect.