I used to compare the drawbacks of no smartphones for kids to growing up in a house with no or limited TV, until my mother emailed to complain with a point that has really stayed with me, which is that at least she was also willing to do without a TV.
Said it before, but to reiterate:
"Ban social media for under 16s"
"internet-free phones for children"
These ideas may have worked 20 years ago, but that horse bolted so long ago, it's galloped around the planet and is now approaching the stable from the opposite direction
/1
This is why, in my experience and observation, the orthodox Jewish Sabbath break from phones and screens still does work– for kids and for adults. Because the parents are doing it too. it doesn’t feel like a punishment, or unfair but instead like modelling something healthy.
