A cross-section of Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions on the appropriate age parents should allow their kids to own cell phones.

In separate interviews across the country on Sunday, Nigerians said there should be an appropriate age a child should be allowed the use of cell phones.

Some said parents should introduce cell phones to their children from 14 years and above, especially those in high school, while some said the appropriate age is 18 years.

Muyiwa Ugwu, a civil servant in Onitsha, said that the safest age to allow a child to use a cell phone is 18 years and above.

Mr Ugwu said exposing a child to a mobile phone at a younger age might lead them to pornography exposure online, which could be devastating to a child’s sex life in future.

“A recent research on this issue states that about 93 per cent of boys and 62 of girls are exposed to pornography at adolescence age,” she said.

Onyinyechi Promise, a petty trader in Kwara, said the right age to allow a child to own a cell phone is 14 years.

“If a child is 14 and they walk home alone from school or if they have a babysitting job that keeps them away from home or an emergency comes up, then it’s a good age for a cell phone, but the device should be a dumb phone.

“But if the child is never left alone, and they’re always in the care of an adult, then a cell phone isn’t necessary for them,” she said.

Asher Emmanuel, a sports coach in Abuja, said that the safest age to allow a child to own a cell phone should be from 18 years and above and after their secondary school education.

Ms Emmanuel said that giving a child a mobile phone at 18 and after secondary school education would help them explore the world.

She urged parents first to instil values and principles that could help their kids not fall victim to sexual predators online before introducing a cell phone to them.

Barnabas Agbo, a trader in Enugu State, said that the right age to allow a child to own a cell phone should be from 12 years upwards.

Mr Agbo said society is digital-based and hides nothing anymore from kids, especially the unexposed ones who are illiterate about cell phones.

“Kids that are not taught or exposed to what mobile phone is at a younger age might likely get exposed to it through their friends who might lure them into watching ungodly videos,” he said.

He said early exposure to cell phones to kids would help guide them on how to manage cell phones and also help to trim desperation that might lead them to developing bad attitudes.

(NAN)