A British couple has sparked a global movement, urging parents to resist the pressure to give their children smartphones at a young age. Daisy Greenwell and her husband Joe Riory took to social media with a simple yet powerful question: what if we could switch the norm? What if parents united to create a "smartphone-free childhood?"
Their Instagram post went viral, attracting thousands of like-minded parents who joined forces to resist the trend of giving children smartphones at an increasingly young age. Within weeks, groups advocating for a smartphone-free childhood had sprouted up in every county in England, and by last year, the movement had expanded beyond British borders, with chapters now operating in 39 countries.
The movement's goal is straightforward: more time outdoors, and a childhood lived offline as much as possible. Greenwell and Riory argue that unrestricted internet access can have negative impacts on young people's mental health. They propose alternative solutions, such as basic "brick phones" that allow calls and texts but limit internet use.
As the movement gains momentum, governments are taking notice. Australia has become the first country to enact a ban on social media accounts for children under 16, with tech giants like Meta and TikTok facing hefty fines if they fail to enforce age restrictions. Meanwhile, in the UK, the national Culture Minister Lisa Nandy has vowed to keep a close eye on the development of such legislation.
At its core, however, the Smartphone Free Childhood movement is not anti-tech; it's pro-childhood. The couple's message resonates with parents who recognize that children don't need their devices 24/7. By delaying the introduction of smartphones until later in childhood, families can reap significant benefits – from reduced screen time to increased outdoor play and improved mental well-being.
"It's really tough" for some working parents, Greenwell acknowledges, but delaying smartphone adoption is "free," "simple," and "gives your child the best chance to thrive." By creating community-led movements like Smartphone Free Childhood, families can collectively drive real change from the grassroots level. As Riory notes, peer pressure dissolves when children know their classmates are also opting for a delayed introduction of smartphones – making it easier for families to resist the trend and wait just a few more years before introducing their devices.
Their Instagram post went viral, attracting thousands of like-minded parents who joined forces to resist the trend of giving children smartphones at an increasingly young age. Within weeks, groups advocating for a smartphone-free childhood had sprouted up in every county in England, and by last year, the movement had expanded beyond British borders, with chapters now operating in 39 countries.
The movement's goal is straightforward: more time outdoors, and a childhood lived offline as much as possible. Greenwell and Riory argue that unrestricted internet access can have negative impacts on young people's mental health. They propose alternative solutions, such as basic "brick phones" that allow calls and texts but limit internet use.
As the movement gains momentum, governments are taking notice. Australia has become the first country to enact a ban on social media accounts for children under 16, with tech giants like Meta and TikTok facing hefty fines if they fail to enforce age restrictions. Meanwhile, in the UK, the national Culture Minister Lisa Nandy has vowed to keep a close eye on the development of such legislation.
At its core, however, the Smartphone Free Childhood movement is not anti-tech; it's pro-childhood. The couple's message resonates with parents who recognize that children don't need their devices 24/7. By delaying the introduction of smartphones until later in childhood, families can reap significant benefits – from reduced screen time to increased outdoor play and improved mental well-being.
"It's really tough" for some working parents, Greenwell acknowledges, but delaying smartphone adoption is "free," "simple," and "gives your child the best chance to thrive." By creating community-led movements like Smartphone Free Childhood, families can collectively drive real change from the grassroots level. As Riory notes, peer pressure dissolves when children know their classmates are also opting for a delayed introduction of smartphones – making it easier for families to resist the trend and wait just a few more years before introducing their devices.
... this whole smartphone thing is crazy, right? It's like, what happened to just being kids again? We're already losing childhood to screens fast enough. This movement is a breath of fresh air - I'm loving the idea of basic brick phones that don't let them scroll through their feeds all day 
... and can you imagine how much more chill our lives would be without all that social media drama? The Aussie government's decision to ban social media accounts for kids under 16 is also super cool - it's about time someone took a stand against those addictive platforms 
. As the Nostalgic, I just want my grandkids (let alone me!) to have some real childhood experiences, not just be glued to their screens...
... Like did you guys know there's a video of a cat playing the piano? 
It's so funny! Wait, what were we talking about again? Oh yeah, smartphones... so like, do you think they're really bad for kids? My friend's kid got one and now they can't even play outside without them 
... maybe it's better if parents just wait a bit longer to give 'em one? 
they need time 2 play outside, read books, learn life skills, not just swipe through screens all day u know? 
plus, basic brick phones r a great alternative, dont need the internet to make calls or text 
! I mean, think about it, having a smartphone at such a young age is basically setting up our kids for a lifetime of screen addiction 
. As a parent myself, I want my little ones to have the best chance at growing into healthy, happy adults 
. The idea of giving them basic phones with limited internet use is genius 
! We should be focusing on outdoor play, social skills, and good old-fashioned human interaction 
. I'm loving how this movement is bringing parents together to resist the pressure to give their kids smartphones at a young age 
. I mean, think about it, kids these days are glued to their screens 24/7 and it's like they're missing out on all the fun outdoors 
. Like, what's wrong with having a "brick phone" that only does calls and texts? It's not like they need Instagram or TikTok at 10 years old 
. It's like, we can't just sit back and let the tech giants dictate how our kids live their lives 
. We need to take control and make sure they're getting the childhood they deserve 
.
. It's just a matter of being mindful and setting boundaries 
. Let's give kids the best chance to thrive, you know? 
. Plus, can you imagine the cool factor when they're one of the only ones with a 'brick phone' in school? 
. Plus, what about emergencies? What if someone needs to reach you in an emergency? And don't even get me started on the whole "no screen time" thing - that's just not realistic for most families. I think it's great that some parents are speaking out and advocating for a change, but I'm not convinced it's all sunshine and rainbows 
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. I know some parents might struggle with this, especially working ones, but trust me, it's worth it. Let's create a world where kids can just be kids, without the weight of their devices holding them back 
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. It's not about being anti-tech, it's about finding balance and giving kids the freedom to explore and learn without the constant distraction of devices 
. I think that's a step in the right direction, but we need more parents like Daisy and Joe who are willing to speak out and make changes from their own homes 
I've got two little ones of my own and it's crazy to think that when I was growing up, we didn't even have smartphones until we were like, 12 or so. It's given me some real perspective on what's important and what's not. Plus, can you imagine the looks on our kids' faces if they saw a kid their age with a "brick phone" 
plus, have you seen those 'brick phones' they're proposing? genius! basic functionality, no distractions. our kids need some downtime, trust me. and it's not like they're gonna be missing out on anything essential. let's give this movement a try and see what happens 
. I'm for it! It's about creating a better childhood, not just accepting tech as the norm.
this is such a positive movement! Parents actually taking control of their kids' screen time, considering what's best for their mental health... 
it's about time we shifted our focus away from constant connectivity and towards the great outdoors! 
It's amazing to see people coming together to support each other in making this change. 
I'm loving the momentum behind this movement and hope it keeps growing!