What is the right age to give your kids a smartphone?
Day in and day out, this is the one question plaguing parents’ WhatsApp groups. To do or not to do, that has been the real question among parents.
On one hand, kids feel alienated owing to social pressure and the need to stay connected with their wide circle of friends. On the other hand, there is this worry that they might be exposed to wrong connections and influences.
Jonathan Haidt, a renowned social psychologist and professor at New York University, known for his work on the psychology of morality and the cultural and political influences on moral beliefs. He co-founded Heterodox Academy and has authored several influential books, including “The Righteous Mind”, “The Coddling of the American Mind” and the more recent “The Anxious Generation” .
Buy the book here
The Anxious Generation
In “The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt argues that smartphones are causing a mental health crisis among teenagers, evidenced by rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other disorders since 2010. He attributes this to the “great rewiring” period where excessive smartphone use primed adolescents for mental health issues.
In this book he suggests 4 rules that he claims will help in reversing the anxiety epidemic in teens.
No smartphones before high school: Haidt recommends delaying smartphone use until high school, citing campaigns like “Wait Until 8th” that support this approach.
No social media before 16 years old: Haidt advises against social media for young teens, comparing its addictive and harmful effects to those of addictive substances.
No phones at school: Removing phones from classrooms reduces distractions and fosters better classroom engagement and reduces FOMO among students.
More independence, free play, and responsibility: Encouraging unsupervised play helps children develop problem-solving skills and a sense of responsibility, crucial for healthy development.
How are we as parents trying to implement this? We discussed at length about this in an earlier video on Kidsstoppress on how parents can battle children’s screen time addiction and bond better with their kids.
How do you tackle screen time addiction in your homes? Tell us in the comments below.
Vaishnavi Venkatraman
Jyotika Bedi
Parul Gupta
Naisha Didwania
