Because They DESERVE It!

Even on less than $15,000 a year, 56% of 18-24 year olds have Smart Phones.

Among 18- to 24-year-olds, more than half of respondents who make less than $15,000 each year said they own a smartphone. This might be explained if the parents of many college-age students are footing their children's phone bills. 

Still, even in the next oldest, post-college age group, the percentage of those in the same income bracket who own a smartphone was a mere 13% lower. Making less than $15,000 in a year doesn't stop 43% of these 25- to 34-year-old mobile customers from paying for a smartphone. Meanwhile, fewer than 20% of respondents older than 45 who make less than $15,000 said they owned a smartphone."

They are *entitled* to a Smart Phone, don't you see. Heck, *I* don't have a Smart Phone, and I work 12-14 hours a day. My husband and I have pay-as-you-go TracFones to save money. I don't need to take pictures and check my email when I'm in my car, I just need to be able to make and receive phone calls. Sure, it would be fun to have an expensive toy, but my husband and I are still paying for two college educations - and we don't expect our fellow taxpayers to do it for us. I know you've seen teenagers with their phones - heck, I've seen them at the gym texting while they're on the exercise bike. Come on, get a grip. The bottom line is that so many of our young people are not being taught that you have to earn expensive toys like Smart Phones. Delayed gratification is becoming a foreign concept.