How It Started

I grew up in Townsend, live in Townsend, and have been a middle school teacher in Townsend for over 10 years. I’m also the father of three young kids. My oldest is entering Kindergarten this upcoming school year. 

After a decade working with middle schoolers, I’ve become convinced that the negatives of smartphones and social media for kids far outweigh the positives. More and more research is indicating that smartphones and social media exposure are having negative effects on our children's mental health. 

Many parents agree—but feel stuck. No one wants their child to be one of the few without a phone or social media. They don't want their kid to feel like an outcast.

This is why I decided to start this initiative. It's about solving that problem together. If enough families pledge to delay smartphones and social media until high school, then no child has feel like the outcast.

My hope is to give my kids more time for the real experiences of childhood—playing outside, building friendships, and growing up without the constant pull of screens.

If you feel this way too, please join me!

Let’s keep our N.M. kids unplugged!

-Tyler Lapierre