>I was pretty shocked. Still, friend off mine, a teacher tells me: You can't let your kid not have SnapChat, it's very important to them.
Yeah, it's OK to say no.
If the kid wants a phone and snapchat, there's nothing wrong with saying you simply won't be supplying that and if they want it they'd best figure out how to mow lawns. If you're old enough to "need" a phone you're old enough to hustle some yardwork and walk to the T-Mobile store yourself.
It's an unfortunate situation where they will be ostracized for lack of participation in social media like Snapchat or TikTok. Children ostracizing those who don't fit in has been a thing forever, but has been thrown into overdrive by ubiquitous social media usage by children.
I don't think making a kid work for the phone is the solution here. The problem is intentionally addictive algorithms being given to children, not a lack of work ethic regarding purchasing a phone.
Yeah, it's OK to say no.
If the kid wants a phone and snapchat, there's nothing wrong with saying you simply won't be supplying that and if they want it they'd best figure out how to mow lawns. If you're old enough to "need" a phone you're old enough to hustle some yardwork and walk to the T-Mobile store yourself.