At the beginning of February [2024], a couple of mums from Suffolk set up a WhatsApp group for people interested in holding off on giving their child a smartphone. Within hours it had exceeded its capacity and has now attracted over 80,000 people across the country. It is now a large ongoing national movement, with national press, and with parents and carers coming together in solidarity.
More recent research means that now we know a difficult truth – smartphones and social media are linked to increased anxiety and depression, decreased attention span, cyberbullying is more prevalent and children are accessing inappropriate content, amongst other risks. These risks are present at surprisingly young ages, not necessarily just during teenage years. Education is obviously hugely important to try and keep our children safe, but our children’s young brains are not wired to be able to avoid the risk or the addiction. There are alternatives to smartphones that allow us to keep in contact with our children without these risks.
Previously, giving our children a smartphone felt inevitable, for fear of isolating them from their friends. But it turns out there are many of us who feel the same way. Our group is a place for parents and carers looking to delay giving their child a smartphone. Knowing that our children won’t be alone and normalising not having a smartphone goes a long way to allowing us to make a decision without pressure, that is right for us and our families.
It is important to say that this group is not passing judgement on anyone, regardless of decision, and recognises how difficult this decision is for parents and carers, with pressure from technology companies. The decision they make must be the right one for their families. Research is also new, and we are only just beginning to understand the harm potentially caused by smartphones.
Smartphone Free Childhood is a large and growing movement, with many parents and carers across East Sussex and nationally working together. You can join your local Smartphone Free Whatsapp group here: @smartphonefreechildhood | Linktree
For more information, you can visit: Smartphone Free Childhood
and About – Delay Smartphones
