European parents unite against young kids having smartphones

Europe’s Parents Unite Against Smartphones for Preteens

A growing movement among parents across Europe is challenging the norm of giving young children smartphones. From Spain to Britain and Ireland, parents are banding together through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, advocating to withhold smartphones from children before — or even into — their teenage years. This collective effort aims to make smartphone ownership among preteens not just uncommon, but socially odd.

In Barcelona, a group chat called “Adolescence Free of Mobile Phones” was initiated by Elisabet García Permanyer after a park conversation with other mothers inspired her to share concerns about children’s Internet access. Initially a small group, it has now expanded to over 10,000 members, with active parents encouraging others not to buy smartphones for their kids until they are 16. García Permanyer’s initiative took off as parents joined forces to delay the onset of smartphone usage.

The movement is not limited to parents. Authorities, including police and public health experts, have raised alarms over children accessing violent and pornographic content via smartphones. Responding to these concerns, Spain’s government banned smartphones in elementary schools this January, only allowing their use in high schools under teacher supervision for educational purposes.

Expanding the Movement

In the UK, the movement gained momentum in part due to tragic events such as the murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, which sparked demands to block children under 16 from social media access on smartphones. Suffolk mother Daisy Greenwell articulated a common sentiment, questioning the wisdom of giving young children smartphones and advocating for a societal shift to delay this. She and a friend, Clare Reynolds, started the WhatsApp group “Parents United for a Smartphone-Free Childhood,” which rapidly grew to 2,000 members and has since diversified into numerous local groups across British counties.

Data shows the uphill battle these parents face: by age 12, most children in Spain, Britain, and Ireland own smartphones. However, parents and schools that have succeeded in changing norms cite the power of collective action. In Greystones, Ireland, all primary school principals united to discourage parents from buying smartphones for their children, which led to parents signing pledges against it. This consensus significantly reduced smartphone presence in schools.

Institutional and Governmental Support

Similar measures are observed worldwide: China and France have enacted regulations to limit smartphone use among children. Spain has also seen an uptick in children accessing harmful online content, prompting further restrictions and safety laws. However, these measures only address school hours, leaving parents to manage their children's digital behavior at home.

Rachel Harper, principal of St. Patrick’s National School in Greystones, emphasized the importance of schools uniting to reinforce the message, highlighting the collective power of parents in the area.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored these concerns, revealing the extent of children’s screen time and the challenges in monitoring their online activities. Parents acknowledge the difficulty of curtailing their own screen time while managing family and work responsibilities. Nevertheless, the movement to postpone smartphone use among kids continues to gain traction.

In conclusion, as Europe’s parents collaborate to delay their children's smartphone ownership, they are fostering a new social norm that prioritizes the well-being and safety of young children in an increasingly digital world.