The Dilemma of Giving Children Smartphones
Daisy Greenwell had long grappled with the decision of when to give her eldest child a smartphone. By early last year, as her daughter approached the age of 8, the thought of it filled her with a sense of trepidation. In conversations with other parents, she found a common sentiment: “Yes, it’s a nightmare, but you’ve got no choice,” recalled Ms. Greenwell, 41.
Determined to explore alternatives, she decided to take action. A friend, Clare Fernyhough, had expressed her own concerns regarding the addictive nature of smartphones and the detrimental effects of social media on mental well-being. Inspired by this, they established a WhatsApp group to share their thoughts and strategies. Ms. Greenwell, who resides in the picturesque countryside of Suffolk, England, took to Instagram to share her reflections.
“What if we could change the prevailing social norm so that within our school, community, or even our entire country, it became unusual to give your child a smartphone before the age of 11?” she posed in her post. “What if we could encourage waiting until they are 14 or even 16?” Along with her message, she included a link to their WhatsApp group, inviting other concerned parents to join the cause.
To her surprise, the post quickly gained traction, going viral within a day. The WhatsApp group became inundated with parents eager to join the conversation and take part in this movement. Currently, over 124,000 parents from more than 13,000 British schools have committed to a pact initiated by a charity called Smartphone Free Childhood, co-founded by Ms. Greenwell, her husband Joe Ryrie, and Ms. Fernyhough. The pact declares: “Acting in the best interests of my child and our community, I will wait until at least the end of Year 9 before getting them a smartphone.” (Year 9 corresponds to the American eighth grade.)
This movement reflects a larger cultural shift in Britain, as growing evidence highlights the potential harms of smartphone addiction and the influence of algorithm-driven social media on developing minds. A survey conducted last year revealed that a significant majority—69 percent—of respondents believed that social media has a negative impact on children under the age of 15. Additionally, nearly half of parents admitted to struggling with limiting the amount of time their children spend on their devices.
Compounding these concerns, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have raised alarms about the increasing volume of extreme and violent content accessible to children online. This troubling trend is explored in the popular television series Adolescence, which depicts a schoolboy facing murder charges after being exposed to harmful online misogyny. The series became a sensation, emerging as Britain’s most-watched show. Recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the creators of the show at Downing Street, sharing that he had watched it with his son and daughter. He acknowledged the issue, stating, “This isn’t a challenge politicians can simply legislate for.”
