How to Enjoy Your Childhood Again Before Screens Take Over
For years, parents have struggled to set boundaries with their children’s cell phone and social media usage. However, a new global movement is gaining momentum as mothers, fathers, educators, and governments are speaking out to regain control over childhood.
A Shift in Attitudes
More and more parents are admitting to giving their children smartphones and tablets at a young age, only to regret it later on. A national survey in the United States found that over half of children started using these devices before the age of 13, accessing platforms like Instagram and TikTok before the recommended minimum age.
This early exposure to technology, often due to social pressure or a lack of awareness of the risks, has led to a phenomenon known as digital regret. Parents and young people alike are expressing feelings of anxiety, dependence, isolation, and difficulty concentrating as a result of technology taking over their lives.
Changing the Narrative
The data shows that even Generation Z is not comfortable with how technology has shaped their childhood. Many young people say they will delay their own children’s access to social media and cell phones, while a third of parents wish they had waited longer to introduce these devices.
Unlike traditional toys like bicycles, which do not lead to regret, social media platforms are causing parents to wish they had never been invented. As a result, new social norms are emerging to protect children without completely sheltering them from the world.
Creating a Healthier Childhood
Families are beginning to implement new rules, such as delaying cell phone use until high school, postponing social media access until age 16, enforcing mobile-free schools, and encouraging more outdoor play and real-world interaction. These ideas are gaining support and are already being put into practice in various countries around the world.
