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BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 8th August
IELTS WRITING TASK 2
IELTS WRITING TASK 2
Children as young as eight own a mobile phone nowadays. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
SAMPLE ANSWER
When mobile phones began to be more widely used in the 1990s, no one could’ve predicted the enormous impact they would eventually have on our day to day lives. It is now near impossible to find anyone in the western world, many children included, who does not own a mobile phone. I firmly believe, however, that the demerits of young children owning phones eclipse the merits.
The reasons parents buy their children phones are varied: some believe that mobile phones provide safety, for example, as they allow you to track, at any given time, where your child is. My parents were an example of this when I was young: while applications like “Find My Friends” did not exist at the time, I was expected to reply to all calls and texts and give them my location whenever required-something that arguably kept me safe, although not necessarily out of trouble. What’s more, modern mobile phones are often presented as having the ability to teach: there are all sorts of apps and games that children can learn from, and a mobile phone is also helpful in introducing technology to kids.
However, none of these arguments are strong enough, in my opinion, to outweigh the negatives when it comes to children younger than twelve. While teenagers often go out on their own and it is useful for a parent to be able to contact them, young children should always be accompanied by an adult. Moreover, while it’s true that mobile phones have a plethora of useful applications, they are also a gateway to danger, as they have access to the internet.
Granted, you can set most mobiles up with parent control, but chances are that children will find ways to get around these barriers, as younger generations are generally far more knowledgeable than their parents when it comes to technology. In addition, mobile phones can be a distraction for children when they are supposed to do their homework, and can even prove a distraction from socialising with their peers and playing outside.
To conclude, there are several advantages and disadvantages to mobile phones, and I strongly believe that all teenagers and adults should own one. In the case of young children, though, the benefits are overshadowed by the drawbacks, and I think that parents should think twice before purchasing a mobile phone for their child.
IELTS Writing Task 2