Childhood first, phones later
Who we are
We are a network of families committed to providing our children with a childhood free from the distraction of smartphones. We believe that delaying smartphone ownership is important to help our children grow into healthy, resilient adults.
What we do
We are growing a community of people who pledge to wait until age 16 to give their children a smartphone. We share resources to help understand the benefits of this decision, create forums so we can navigate these issues together as a community, and spread the news about other efforts to expand smartphone-free spaces for our kids.
Why it matters
A decade ago, we didn’t have much evidence on the negative impact of social media and smartphones on children’s mental health and development. But we do now. Driven by this data and the desire to just let our kids be kids, we aim to create new norms around smartphones in support of healthy, experience-based childhoods.
Strength in numbers
Creating smartphone-free spaces for our children in our homes, schools, and neighborhoods takes a village. We already have built up a strong community of supporters - we’re updating our website so that you’ll be able to see the concentration of families in your area who have also made the pledge. Check back soon to see how our network is growing!
Dig into the evidence
As smartphones became more accessible in the 2010s, smartphone ownership rapidly accelerated, including among children. Today, the BBC reports that up to 91% of 11-year-olds own one. We now have evidence on the impact smartphone ownership on kids, with ample research to support delaying their access to social media and the internet. We’ve compiled a few resources to help as you make this decision for your family.
Other ways to stay connected
Delaying smartphone ownership doesn’t mean not being able to connect with your kids when you need to. We’re all for solutions that help us communicate with our children remotely and help to build healthy digital habits. A number of smartphone alternatives now exist in the market - we’ve rounded up a few options for you to explore and see what works for your family.
