- Smartphone Childhoods: Globally, kids are getting access to smartphones at young ages. In 2022, 58% of German 10- to 11-year-olds owned a smartphone – a drastic leap from the 27% who had one from ages eight to nine (Statista, 2023). In South Korea and India, 79% and 56% of kids aged six to 12 respectively had smartphones as of 2023 (S&P Global), while in the UK, 91% of 11-year-olds and 44% of nine-year-olds own a smartphone (The Guardian, 2024).
Jonathan Haidt, American psychologist and author of 2024-published book The Anxious Generation, argues that growing up with smartphones obstructs healthy development, preventing kids from unsupervised outdoor play and in-person socialising (though not everyone agrees). - Parent-Led Local Advocacy: British parents Clare Fernyhough, Daisy Greenwell and Joe Ryrie founded the campaign Smartphone-Free Childhood in February 2024 to limit their children’s smartphone use. The campaign includes WhatsApp groups for regions across the UK, where participants share tips on discussing the importance of delaying smartphone use with fellow parents (without judgment, presenting scientific evidence) and introducing the idea of phone-free schools to headteachers. Parents can also receive advice on the best dumbphones (mobiles without internet access) for kids.
- Building Kid-Friendly Phones: According to Fernyhough, companies should develop “really cool” dumbphones that satisfy parents’ desire to stay in touch with their child, and the kid’s desire for a phone.
Some shrewd tech companies are already doing this. US leader Bark offers the Bark Phone, a smartphone for kids that is easily customised by parents (including the option to disable social media). Its main feature, however, is automatic monitoring alerts for parents. Bark scans all texts and emails, as well as social media and app activity, and informs parents of any potentially unsafe activity (like language that refers to bullying).
See Consumers & Screentime for more on child-friendly technology.
