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Lol— I had a friend whose parents took this approach. The parents eventually gave in because they got tired of never being able to reach their son through failed attempts to call friends (like me) in an effort to reach him.

Also big difference between an 8 year old and 15 year old (still not really working age but definitely socializing independently age).

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Hence the shared dumbphone to take places. If we have to, we'll get one for each. No personal smartphones until they can pay for it themselves, at which point I reckon that's proof enough that they're responsible enough for it until they prove otherwise.

[EDIT] Also:

> Also big difference between an 8 year old and 15 year old (still not really working age but definitely socializing independently age).

I started my first job at 15, as did tons of my classmates. Is that no longer a fairly ordinary age for a first job? Has it changed that much changed in a bit over two decades?

AFAIK nothings really changed, but 14 has been on the fringe of legal employment age in most scenarios for a long time and is regulated. 16+ is fair game, plus depending on location there is the whole issue about how they get to work.

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