Mobile Phones for teens

As the same with other developed countries, the mobile phones situation in Japan has been changing every day. According to a research done by Benesse Corporation about mobile phones among teenagers, over 93% of high school kids have their own and 29% of elementary school kids have phones either with family or of their own. The percentage increase age by age, but number of holders increase differently based on sex. At age 10, only about 30% have phones among both boys and girls; however, at age13 (only after 3 years) the percentage jumps up to 49% for girls, but stays 31% for boys. Then at age 16, 94% of girls and 87% of boys and at age 18, both of sexes reach as high as 93%. What is more, the manners among teenagers are different from that of adults.
The research reports that 80% of teen users enjoy phones either taking pictures or movies and downloading music and playing games when adults use phones for communication both private and business. Elementary schoolchildren use phones often when they need to call family, whereas junior high schoolchildren use them mainly to exchange e-mails with friends. Again, girls exchange e-mails more often than boys and junior high schoolchildren use e-mail function than high schoolchildren. They answer e-mail right after they receive them. They do not mind if a person who is in front of you starts answering or writing a reply by his/her phone.

“They consider face to face communication and communication by phone is equal. Therefore, some attitudes which are not acceptable to elders are natural among teenagers,” says Akira Sakai, a professor of Otsuma Women’s University. Though there is a difference between junior high schoolchildren and high schoolchildren, both of them obviously have different perspective from elders.

I understand that mobile phones are so popular that it is hard for kids not to look at or hope to own under peer pressure. However, time of school days never comes back. They have their job such as study and student clubs to get themselves into shape and learn teamwork and harmony.　It is not too bad to use or own mobile phones. Yes it is useful and has a lot of information. Nevertheless, they have things to do before having their own phones. Schooldays should be the basis for living a normal life as a member of society. I would allow my daughter to have one when she has certain knowledge and keeps a good standard in school (no absence, study hard, and make good friends).
Some schools ban to bring mobile phones; however, since most of high schoolchildren have their own phone, schools need to teach and educate on advantages and disadvantage of mobile phones. Teaching at home is a must. Sakai commented regarding this research, “It is very interesting that sense of teenagers today; we need to look into minorities who feel discomfort and doubt on some attitudes, and then take those into topics to discuss in the school education”.