Smartphone Free Childhood: 'Delay smartphones for kids until high school'
The Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) initiative is on a mission to connect and empower parents to press pause on smartphones and social media for kids.
Photo: Unsplash/bruce mars
Mike Wills spoke to Courtney Atkinson, a founder of the Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) Working Group.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
The Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) initiative's mission is to connect and empower parents to press pause on smartphones and social media for kids.
Studies have shown that smartphones are highly addictive, reduce attention spans, are a huge disruption in schools, expose children to harmful content and can impact mental health - amongst other things.
Atkinson says many parents are in a position where they either give in to their child's demands for a smartphone and put them in harm's way, or they don't give them these devices and the child is potentially excluded or ostracised by their friends.
"Up until this point, I didn't have options. My options were to put on my parental controls, lock down the router, set my screen limit and hope for the best."
- Courtney Atkinson, Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) Working Group
The SFC is calling on parents of primary school children to join thousands of parents across South Africa in signing the Parent Pact to delay smartphones until high school.
They have several resources on their website to help parents explore ways to foster healthier digital habits.
The initiative is also aiming to have phone-free schools.
"It's not a no, it's a not now."
- Courtney Atkinson, Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) Working Group
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.