How Young is Too Young to Own a Cell Phone?

How young is too young for a child to have a cell phone?  I only ask because my two oldest, twelve and nine, have been asking for one since before Christmas.  They didn’t’ get one.  There are parents who say that they feel more comfortable knowing that they can get in touch with their kid anytime, and vice versa. 

I remember getting along just fine without a phone when I was a kid.  “Oh, times have changed,” I hear.  We live in a crazier, faster-paced world and it’s good to use this technology to teach responsibility.  I don’t necessarily disagree.  I think I would have to institute some sort of contract like this mother did when she ‘loaned’ her son an iPhone.

Do your young children have cell phones?  Where do you stand on this issue?  Leave a comment on facebook.