We conducted surveys of the nine schools to determine interest in
delaying smartphones and social media for young students.
Here is what we found:

Delay Smartphones: Peer Schools

Delay Social Media: Peer Schools

Individual School Results:

Sample Comments from Parents:

  • Let's not cave!!!!  A phone-based life makes it difficult for children, teens and adults to be fully present when they're with others and to sit silently with themselves when they're alone. “we are forever elsewhere.” Teens and pre teens are particularly vulnerable because their bodies, their brains, and their social lives are changing so rapidly. And the research is very clear and it is simple – increased screen time takes away from in-personal connections, sleep, and attention. [Our] family is all in!!! 

  • I would love to have as many people "bought into" community norms like:  no phones in carpools, no phones on playdates 

  • Thought the context of the parents with older kids who have phones very compelling and would be great to share that more broadly with our grade.  I think we often have this notion that pandora's box is open and we can't close it.  But the recent session helped me understand that's not the case and it may be worthwhile "going backwards".

  • I am really excited about this effort and also want to take this conversation to the schools themselves.  My daughter is using her school iPad for hours many days, and I worry that it is not that different than a giant phone, but happens to be school-sanctioned and encouraged.

  • I think that smartphones and social media are intrinsically linked, so I want to delay the phone for as long as possible. Communication and location tracking can be solved by smartwatches and basic communication could be handled by “dumb phone” if truly needed.

  • Although I think social media is the worst part, the fear of missing out from texts and group chats is equally negative for focus and sense of self

  • We have two older children.  Social media on smartphones wrecked much of their adolescence.  Our youngest can buy a smartphone when she’s 18. 

  • Having an older kid, the pressures of wanting a phone only get more intense in MS. I think having a collective stance could really help parents navigate this more easily.  We got our older son a phone in 7th and wish we would have waited longer as it is super addictive and meant to be.