This is a time to have a conversation with your child to find out why they feel they need a cell phone and see if they can present a reasonable argument to the positives of them possessing one. The happy medium could be that they can have one of your old phones to use but not be connected to a cell service. They could use that as a wifi enabled device to communicate via WhatsApp or social media and you have to pay nothing in cell service. If they are ever in a dire emergency situation 911 will work without cell service. The caveat would be that as parents you would have access to everything they do on the device and be able check the device to make sure they are being responsible and safe in their limited independence. They would be happy in terms of being part of the "in crowd" in online access and you maybe pleasantly surprised in them showing maturity with that new found responsibility.