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Share your story
Share your story here on how internet access, social media, and/or Generative AI has affected your life, good or bad. We want to share real world stories on how smartphones have impacted you, your family, your friends and relatives. We want to hear how you've tried to limit smartphones for children especially. What worked, what failed, what problems were created, what problems were solved. Whether you agree or disagree, share your story here to let others know they are not alone. By posting a comment, you agree to be respectful and honest.
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I believe in today’s society and once a child is working having a cell phone is an asset. That being said I also have seen how cell phones with data have became an addiction for most children who have access to them. They are stealing the childhoods of our children. Instead of doing kids are watching other kid doing. Instead of interacting they are becoming anti social and withdrawn. Not even having the ability to reach out to their friends to hang out, I am talking in the teen years. I see so many parents use technology as a babysitter for their kids instead of interacting with them or encouraging them to play and learn and be kids. I am aware of emf harms to a developing brain and with we would not allow wifi where children under 7 are present. I do not think kids should be allowed cell phones in school. The list can go on and on! Legislation needs to be brought forward for this like they have done in European countries.
This is Wade
They are taking them out of the schools in Alberta this fall WOOHOO
My 13 year old has a smartphone but no social media only texting and calls. If she downloads any social media without our permission she knows we will take the phone away. Sha also understands the risks to mental health that phones can cause so she for the most part agrees with us. She is a confident kid, i am sure not having social media helps. The hard part is her friends. She feels like she is missing out.
Social media is so destructive for mental health - parents wouldn’t let their children smoke just because the child would feel like they were missing out if they didn’t smoke - why do they let their children have Snapchat/Instagram etc?
I would love to help reduce the grip these corporations have on our young people - I think a many pronged approach is probably needed; more options for phones without social media, banning smart phones in classrooms (as Eton school in UK has done), reducing the dependency on apps (for parking, transport, google classroom etc), government policies to protect our children and hold these companies accountable, and educating parents. If we can stop the few kids who do not have social media from feeling like outcasts then that would be a wonderful first step. Thank you!
I’ve worked in public schools for many years. From the pre-internet to just recently. Parents are giving their children devices mostly around the middle school ages. Many times parents are heard to say they want to be able to get a hold of kids at any time. We need to convince parents that they do not have to be afraid of their kids being “loose”. In “emergencies”, they can nearly always call the school, the church, the store, …. A part of what we are saying as parents when we say we always have to be in contact with them is that the world is a terribly scary place and that is a lesson in fear. This is related to anxiety.
There is a whole other aspect to cellphone use inside schools , especially in high school settings and that is distraction from learning. To learn complex ideas, it often takes a long time to observe, absorb and practice. Devices can help, but my experience is that for most of us, they are a distraction during classroom settings and prevent us from learning difficult things. That’s just one more aspect to consider.
June 20th 2024---This is Wade someone shot my house with paintballs early this morning, around 2 or 3 AM. Probably because I park my Ridgeline wrapped with Smartphone Free Childhood on my front lawn. LOL!!! This must be gaining traction !!!
How about just not buying them a smartphone?
HELLO.... My name is Wade. I own this website. I am doing this for my grandchildren. Please share your story. I do NOT want your money or your personal information. Only an email so I can contact you when the time is right to send a petition to the Federal Government.
HHOORRRAAAYYY for Alberta passing some laws yesterday for phones and social media access in schools. It is a start, but does not go far enough in my opinion.
I want my children to be smartphone free but pressure from social circles is hard to resist. I'd love to hear some advice on how to keep smartphones away from my kids but without them or me losing friendships.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for setting up the site. This is an important issue to me!