The Birth of a Worldwide Movement for a Childhood Free from Smartphones

For Daisy Greenwell and Joe Riory, genuine freedom is about engaging with the environment around them, rather than focusing on screens, and they are keen to instill this concept of digital independence in their offspring.

Their young daughter began requesting a smartphone at the age of eight because many of her peers had them. This unexpected desire prompted Greenwell to examine this phenomenon further.

She discovered extensive research indicating that excessive smartphone usage could adversely affect the mental well-being of young individuals.

The more knowledge she accrued, the more concerned she became, leading her to take initiative. Greenwell posed an intriguing question on Instagram: What if we altered the status quo? What if parents collaborated to foster a 'smartphone-free childhood'?

The reaction was swift and overwhelming.

"The post garnered widespread attention," she revealed to CBS News. "In just a night, countless parents joined the initiative."

In a matter of weeks, smartphone-free initiatives sprouted across every English county. A year on, the grassroots campaign had grown beyond the borders of the United Kingdom.

Now known as Smartphone Free Childhood, this movement comprises chapters in 39 different nations.

For Greenwell, Riory, and thousands of participating families, the mission is clear: Encourage more outdoor experiences and promote an offline childhood whenever feasible.

In America, the movement even inspired a provocative viral ad that cautioned about the potential risks of granting children unrestricted internet access. The ad rhetorically compared it to trusting a child with an unrestricted box of harmful content.

The clamor against social media overuse among kids has captured the interest of governments around the globe. Recently, Australia became the inaugural country to mandate social media age limits for those under 16, with penalties for tech giants like Meta and TikTok if not adhered to.

The U.K.'s Culture Minister, Lisa Nandy, acknowledged these developments, stating they were following Australia's lead, though their government had no immediate intentions to implement similar restrictions.

On a local level, parents joining Greenwell and Riory's cause pledge not to introduce smartphones to their children before age 14 and to prevent social media use until 16.

"This isn't a movement against technology, but rather one that champions a fulfilling childhood," Riory expressed to CBS News. "We aren't advocating for an absolute ban on smartphones, just limiting kids' limitless internet access."

Addressing the concerns of busy parents dependent on technology for convenience, Greenwell admits the challenge. "It isn't easy," she says, "but postponing the smartphone is cheap, straightforward, and beneficial for childhood development."

Many parents are opting for basic mobile phones, allowing for calls and texts while restricting internet usage. Reports from Partners Universal Innovative Research Publication highlight a 150% increase in such 'dumb' phone sales among American youth aged 18 to 24.

Despite the gains, Greenwell acknowledges the need to challenge existing social norms. Data reveals that a quarter of British kids aged 5 to 7 already own a smartphone.

Greenwell believes community engagement is pivotal for change. "If children see that several peers are also waiting for smartphones, societal pressure decreases," she explained. "Choosing a more basic phone as an interim step makes it feasible. It's a collective effort we can achieve."