There are reasons to have cell phones and there are reasons “not” to have cell phones. Understand that having a cell phone is a privilege and not a “right”. If you are asking whether or not you should have texting you are already understanding that there could be a problem. In truth, once you start texting, it is never ending and it could become very expensive. Texting is a simple way to send messages in private when you don’t want someone to necessarily pick up the phone, or draw attention to him/herself by having the phone ring and have them answer. They just glance at the phone and read just like email and it is definitely habit forming.
Remember the days of “beepers”? When someone would send a message on a beeper and people were constantly checking their beepers for messages? Grab and look in middle of conversations, yeah that’s it and it reinvented itself into text messaging. WE are constantly connected via text to phones and to computers. It is a convenience to some and a nuisance to others.
So should an 11th grader get texting? I can’t tell you what to do because it is a choice you have to make with your parents, but if I were to give you advice, I would ask you to hold off as long as you possibly can. And if you choose to get it, don’t start texting with your friends because you will surprised who winds up with your phone number and starts texting you. Just use it sparingly among your parents and siblings.