At What Age Should Kids Be Given A Cell Phone?

As a first time mother, I am constantly learning from my mistakes and seeking out advice from my own mom and sisters.  But one thing that me and my sisters disagree on is giving children cell phones.

I understand that we are in the technology age and that kids need computers at an earlier age, but what about cell phones?  My nieces and nephews all have a cell phone.  Now that blows my mind.  My youngest nephew is six.  What on earth does a six year old need with a cell phone?

The argument is that the phone is a way to stay in touch with the kids.  Or if the kids have an emergency they will have a way to call.  Now like I said before, I am relatively new to this mom thing but why would I need to get in touch with my six year old?  At the age of six, I should know exactly where my child is at all times and who he is with.  There is no need for a cell phone.

Another thought I have is that cell phones bring unwanted trouble.  Example:  my friend caught her eleven year old on the phone in the middle of the night.  The child denied that she was talking to anyone, of course.  But after searching, my friend found the phone under the bed and hit redial.  Who was on the other end?  A boy from school.  Unwanted trouble!

Now I know I grew up in a totally different generation, but I was not allowed to even talk on the house phone.  The phone was not a toy.  If we had school events and my mom couldn't make it, we would use the school phone to call home.  I turned out just fine without a cell phone.

With that being said, I'm not an old fart.  I understand that things change and technology is readily available, but I still do not agree with a six year old having a cell phone.  Maybe a teenager, but they will have to earn it.

So what do you think?  How old should a child be before they get a cell phone?