Laura Lee Winger, Contributing writer

The widespread use of cell phones has altered the American culture and way of doing things in many ways, and teens are embracing it just as much, if not more, than adults.

But some question whether young people really need to have a communication device with them at all times.

The obvious and often-cited arguments for teens being allowed cell phones begin with the just-in-case mindset: In an emergency, a cell phone provides a level of assurance that the teens will be able to reach their parents or emergency personnel. This argument is even stronger for teens who drive, as they may run into car troubles and can use cell phones to call for help.

Cell phones also allow parents to reach their teens when they are out. Some family-oriented packages even allow parents to track their kids using GPS-enabled software.

Additionally, we have seen a transformation in American culture that almost necessitates cell phone use, specifically texting, and teens are not immune to this. Social lives are important to many teens, and cell phones can be seen as necessities. Teens will often exaggerate this need, but the lack of a cell phone may truly hinder their social development.

Also, some schools and organizations have made positive use of texting. Arizona State University, for example, set up an emergency text service that alerts subscribers if there is an emergency on campus. Likewise, certain software can alert students when the classes they want open up for registration, prompting immediate action to register before the classes fill up again.

There are some other issues that cell phones present, such as school behaviors. One study estimates that 35 percent of teens admit to cheating on a test by using cell phones. Even if cell phones are not that way, they serve as a distraction to students who often disregard their schools' policies on cell phone use in the building and even in the classroom.

More To Consider

Age is one of the more important considerations in evaluating the need of a cell phone.

For example, a 2-year-old does not need a cell phone, but it might be a good idea for a teenager going off to college. It is up to the parents to decide where, within that gray area between such extremes, a teen should be deemed ready for a cell phone.

Other considerations include the amount of activity the teens are involved in and the ability of the family to pay for the phone.

Parents allowing their teens to have cell phones should emphasize that owning one is a privilege, not a right. They can use this platform to agree upon rules of use.

Ground rules that should be set include who will pay for the bill, who pays for excessive charges, when they can and cannot be used and what features can and cannot be used. For example, you might not want a young adult text messaging, picture and video messaging, buying games or downloading music.

Furthermore, parents should discuss with their children the ethical and safety issues, like what is considered cheating on schoolwork.

Like it or not, cell phones are here to stay. Pagers and landlines are quickly being replaced for many Americans, and this phenomenon impacts our youth just as much as adults. The decision of when and how teens are allowed to use cell phones is ultimately up to the parents, and should be made carefully.