I think what’s happening is that everyone’s seen people who have gone off/met a guy/girl through a phone, and others are seeing people who have had phones and are fine.
Again, from being there and doing that, it really depends on where you’re holding. If you’re on a level where you’d never dream of contacting the other gender, having a cell phone, even with messaging, won’t change that. If you would, you’ll find a way around the controls your parents give you, no matter whether you have a phone or not. The only ones who might be influenced one way or another are those on the fence. The ones who only follow because they have to, not because they understand why they should. So give them the free reign and they’ll break the chain.
So it really all depends on the person. And the reality is, people do need cell phones these days, and if you don’t give it to them, they may just become more resentful of you.