SUMMIT, NJ-- Jim Lees and his son Quentin just happened to be on their way to get a new cellphone for the 12-year-old. He accidentally left it in his pocket and it went in the washing machine.
"What do you use your cell phone for most?" he was asked. "Probably games, honestly," he answered.
"How about your twin sister?" his father asked him. "Probably social media," he responded.
Jim Lees says it was a family decision for his kids to have cellphones. "Part of it was logistics activities taking them here and there picking them up and coordinating."
But other families in New Jersey and nationwide are signing up for the "wait until 8th pledge."
"This pledge will help unify parents because it will be easier for them to stick to their guns," said clinical social worker Tammy Gold.
The pledge is designed to flip the script on peer pressure.
The idea is to get 10 other families in your area to sign up so your child is not the only one without a smartphone under the age of 13.
"With the smartphone comes social media access to viewing thing kids may not need to see," Gold aid.
Some parents say sure, it's a great idea but it may be unrealistic.
"We were trying to hold off as long as possible, unfortunately, I think socially that's how the kids communicate," said mother Danielle Reising.
She recognizes the advantages and disadvantages. "In a town like this when they come downtown, it's useful because there are no pay phones left for the kids to call to say, 'I'm here, I'm there.' "
Some people said kids are too wrapped up in the technology and need to socialize without the devices.
Parents are still encouraged to sign the pledge even if their child has a basic flip phone, as long as it's limited to only calls or texts.
The wait until eighth web page has collected signatures from two thousand families so far.
