"Should parents set a minimum age or some restrictions for their children to own a smartphone, and if so what would they be?"
Such is the @ecoTrain Question of the Week! Wow, what a good and timely query.
While I do believe that each family needs to make their own decisions about these types of things, I have some interesting points to make along these lines.
Earlier this year, I read this article
'Our minds can be hijacked': the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia
It details the evolution of thought by Justin Rosenstein who was on the team who developed the "Facebook Like" to give a positive reward that keeps you seeking more.
Interestly enough, years later, he now has multiple Apps on his phone which limit his own use.
He's not the only one. Many people who help develop these technologies bar themselves from them by installing web browser plug-ins to eradicate their Facebook news feed, to having their assistants set up software on their phones that don't let them download apps. And, even more telling,
"It is revealing that many of these younger technologists are weaning themselves off their own products, sending their children to elite Silicon Valley schools where iPhones, iPads and even laptops are banned."
It's no surprise that the population is completely distracted by their Smart Phones. These are adults who are smart enough to create these technologies, but who still cannot withstand the allure or addictive nature of these products. They limit their kids' time on them and yet the average kid likely isn't even limited in these ways.
It was like a veil was taken off of my eyes when I read that article for the first time.
As you read on, you see even more measures taken by the people developing these apps:
Finally, Eyal confided the lengths he goes to protect his own family. He has installed in his house an outlet timer connected to a router that cuts off access to the internet at a set time every day. “The idea is to remember that we are not powerless,” he said. “We are in control.”
But are we? If the people who built these technologies are taking such radical steps to wean themselves free, can the rest of us reasonably be expected to exercise our free will?
These words are alarming for any of us to read. The creators of these programs are limiting their children and themselves. And even more worrisome,
A survey from Common Sense Media and SurveyMonkey found 47% of parents worry their child is addicted to their mobile device. By comparison, only 32% of parents say they're addicted themselves.
This @ecoTrain QotW comes at such a great time.
Parents absolutely need to set up a minimum age and restrictions for their children (and themselves) in relation to smart phones and associated technologies.
We as adults have a hard time limiting our smart phone use and even we have more psychological controls available to shift habits, our personalities are more formed, and we didn't grow up with them. Imagine how this is for kids!
I remember when the first friend of mine in high school got a regular cell phone.
It was really novel; we were about 15 years old and no one had one yet. Her mom was a single working mother who actually needed to have connection with her daughter.
Fast forward almost 20 years and 15 is a late age to get a cell phone. And they aren't just things you can call other people from, or play little games, they contain entire worlds with feedback loops through social media and access to the entire internet. That's a huge shift!!
I also remember when I was a kid, my sister and my parents set up limits for TV time and for video game use.
Likely when you're a kid, you're not happy about abiding by this, but this was a good rule as it encouraged us to doodle, go play outside (entire worlds with feedback loops there, too!), engage with other kids our age in the neighborhood and much more. Limiting TV time then wasn't exciting to us, but we didn't "get glued to the tube" either and for that I'm thankful.
When you're young, your brain is just forming, you're taking in incredible amounts of information about getting along with others, building relationships, you're navigating the world past just your immediate family more and more. Adding a smart phone into this mix is a completely new variable that we've never seen before.
I'm not sure on the exact age or restrictions to be imposed by each family, but I truly think it would be healthy to not let a young person have a phone until they're 16 years old. This is when you also start driving in the United States and getting some more freedoms. Having a phone for being able to make a call if something happens when you're driving or out and about with your friends is a good reason to have one. Before this, your parents are largely taking you everywhere and you don't really need a phone, map, etc.
I also think it's wise, as the creators of these technologies have shown us above, to limit the use of the phone.
Have a time each day that the internet is turned off or that the phone is put away. There should also be times when phone use is allowed. Say for an hour after homework is done. No phones at the dinner table would be a good rule, too, and then of course, turning off the internet in the evening, maybe at 9 pm.
Also, Iphones themselves allow parents to easily restrict use within the phone itself:
For the iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then scroll down to Restrictions. When you first enable restrictions, the device will ask you to create a four-digit PIN.
Restrictions allows parents to control everything from what apps kids can open to whether they can make purchases within apps. Users can also adjust the type of content kids can view based on ratings.
And if parent's need support, there's a "Wait Until 8th" they can be a part of (pledges to not get the kid a smart phone until 8th grade). If at least 10 families within one school make the pledge, it activates for that school. That way parents have solidarity in what can be an isolating decision.
Personally, I saw a young girl, maybe around 10 years old glued to a phone yesterday as she was waiting for her mom to put groceries in the car.
She wasn't helping, but her neck was bent down (this causes health problems long term, too, by the way), her eyes fixed on the phone. I think at that age kids don't need to be involved in social media or all of the other things IPhones offer. I realize this may ostracize them from the swell of kids their age who have these phones, but I think it's healthier in the long run.
When you're developing who you are, you shouldn't be doing it over social media or inputing so many videos from YouTube. We get insecurities as adults from peering into the lives of others and I imagine its exponentially "worse" when you're in the fragile awkward stage of middle school or highschool.
In conclusion, I think that smart phone use should be carefully regulated by parents for their children and for themselves.
We all need to take to heart the way that the people who've created this technology are limiting themselves and their children. They've created these technologies to be addictive and we need to take note. It could be irreparable what happens to young minds: their communication habits and increasing inability to actually have real conversations with people in person. I think these are real things that are happening.
We've never before watched a generation grow up who have communicated with their peers and screens more than "in person" or "in the flesh." I for one think we need to think about the consequences of too much screen time and limit it before we lose an entire generation.
What do you think?
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nicely said mountain jewel! and you win the prize for fastest ever QOTW post!!!
im curious.. what age do you think is suitable to wait until a kid gets a phone these days? Lets say they CAN use one before then, but to actually own one?
oh i mentioned it in the post, but maybe you didn't see it. i said 16 was a good age, as youngins are also (at least in the US) starting to get their driver's licenses and having more freedom away from their families/actually have need of a phone. i think having a regular non smart phone before this would be okay (maybe at 14), but to really limit that craziness til they get a bit older. hahah glad i won the speed award this time, i was always known for being fast ;) looking forward to everyone's responses.
Quick draw McGraw!!! Lol. Wer'e all reeling in shock!!! I missed the 'own' thing, more the 'use' thing - but it doesn't seem to be mutually exclusive these days. If you're using a phone, you probably own one too, even if it's a hand me down.....my nephew has such a beaten up old thing, and my son refuses to part with his smashed screen 4 year old HTC because "mum, I can still text on it, so why do I need a new one" ha
I couldn't agree more with everything you wrote. Screen time is a huge treat at our house, not the norm. We do have ipads for travel entertainment, but that's the only time they're used. The Husband and I agreed that if and when the kids get phones they're going to be prepaid non-smartphones and the kids won't get them till they're around driving age (same reason you mentioned about it being good to have a phone for emergencies while driving).
I well remember the powerful allure of computer/video games when I was a kid. I also remember how like a drug they were...once we got playing we couldn't be torn away. We had none in our house (except Oregon Trail lol) but a handful of friends did. I have no intention of introducing those into the house either.
exactly @mntmeadowmomma, i'm really heartened to read your comment as i see soooo many kids these days on smartphones and i understand it's a dilemma for parents, but so surprising to me to see kids glued to the screens at lower and lower ages. i really like your plan for your kids. and totally agree, i remember how video games and tv was like a drug-- smart phones are the next level! thanks for stopping by!
I really want there to be more interactive things with nature for children. It feels like, with the introduction of devices, the younger generations have not seemed as interested. There is a native american proverb that goes something like this:
"The farther man gets from nature, the farther he gets from himself."
this is so true, @tracytalley! i think that's where setting intentional time to use the devises and then making times without them is so helpful; it really lets us "drop down" into moments with nature, without technology to be present with ourselves and the reverberations of nature. i do hope for our kids' sakes that we can start to find that balance as a culture <3
I love that proverb. It's not the fault of younger gen though - tis the lack of monitoring. My nephews are so in touch with nature, but they have a contract that limits the use of phones.Example: babysitting 8 year old the other day:
'Aunty K, I'm only allowed half an hour on electronics, just setting the alarm okay?'
Sure. Half an hour - alarm buzzes.
"Okay, awesome, I'm jsut going to read my book for ten minutes then can we go to the creek and go exploring??"
Love him to bits.
Very great article my dear!! I am thinking about this issue a lot, and I try to be a good role model for my toddler, but it can be hard many times to limit the phone use, it is truly addictive! Will write my thoughts about this topics too;)
When I was growing up, video games were just hitting hard with the Atari 2600
My parent set time limits and I heard a lot of "Get out of the house". With my kids I probably didn't do as well but we did some of the basics like keep the computer or game console in a common area. That way you can monitor and discuss use. With smart phones it is getting harder. One of the rules we all still follow is no smart phones on the table during family meals.
those are good ones @steven-patrick. i think parent's of this generation have their work cut out for them. i'm sure there's pressure to let their kids do it "as everyone has one!"... what pressure! it's tough because likely all of these kids are on social media and watching the latest popular youtubes and if you don't let your kid participate, you run the risk of not letting them "be up to speed" with the latest "whatever it is", but really i think that's where initiatives like i shared above "wait until 8th" are so good because they bring the community together around a decision.
What a funny looking box that atari is ;)
NOw that's a good idea, just like TV - omg we'd never be able to watch TV at meal times!!!
If adults aren't able to Control ourselves on these device how do we expect our children to be able to.
for me. parents play a role in the field of educating their children. if we look from the current life, the average of many children depends on the spartphone because the parents are allowing it.
yes exactly; it's up to the parents in these cases.
do you have children? If you delete something you have done to resolve this issue
As a parent myself i believe you should take in control, especially very young minds. Children are so smart. They picked up everything easily good or bad. I have a 1 year old 7months child, i control the T.V. i control the you tube. I set a limit for the time and when its done, no fuss.
yep, well done @sherylneil, i think you're spot on! they pick up everything really quick, whether good or bad habits!
Yay! I am 100% behind you on this one! We can't let our brains be highjacked by technology, there is too much in this world to explore and experience! In living color! Not digitally enhanced!
Right, I've written my reply. I totally agree with everything you say, but I suppose I went off on a totally different tangent. It's a really difficult topic and the Libran in me struggles - ahhhh balance!!!
I dont think we're going to lose an entire generation, though. I just think it's going to be a different one. When I look at Jarrah, he's not lost. He just went through what any teen did - railing against parental control, a desire to be connected, and to find his own voice and self. Sure, I limited him somehwat and regulated him - oh my god what a battle! - but I reckon the kids are alright in this regard.
https://busy.org/@riverflows/all-kids-need-freedom-as-much-as-they-need-boundaries-ecotrain-s-question-of-the-week-kids-and-smartphones
loved your article! i sometimes like to throw dramatic zingers in there at the end that make big statements for people to argue for or against! haha i sure hope this generation doesn't "suffer" too badly from too much overexposure to technology. i really like how you've balanced it with jarrah <3
Lol I'm Libran remember.. don't mind a dramatic comment or two he he. Anyway.. watch out with that or I'll block you for being phone-ist ... ;)
Oh I’m completely phone-ist! Block me then! 😜😉🏁
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