What Kids Gain by Waiting

Delaying smartphones and social media gives kids more time to:

• Build real-world social skills

• Develop independence and problem-solving

• Sleep better and focus better in school

• Spend more time being active and creative

• Form friendships based on shared experiences rather than online interactions

• Learn to deal with boredom!
  
  

Childhood is short. Giving kids a few extra years before the pressures of social media and constant connectivity can make a real difference.

Common Questions

What if I want to stay in touch with my child?

There are alternative options that allow parents to be connected with children but don't have unlimited apps or internet on them. Basic "dumbphones", Gabb phones, Bark phones, and many others work. 

Why not just set limits on phone use?

The challenge is that the issue isn’t always just how much kids use social media, but the nature of the platforms themselves. Social media is built to keep users engaged, and much of the activity—group chats, posts, and conversations—happens continuously. Even with limits, kids can feel pressure to stay connected so they don’t miss out. Even when kids aren't on the phone, they're thinking about what they're missing out on. 

Additionally, the content kids encounter on social media can often be more mature than they are developmentally ready to handle. A time limit doesn’t change what they might see while they’re there.

Aren’t there benefits to technology and social media?

Technology absolutely has value, and kids will learn how to use it. This initiative is about timing, not prohibition—giving kids time to mature before introducing tools that can have powerful social and psychological effects.

Will my child fall behind in technology?

Kids learn technology extremely quickly. Waiting a few years does not put them behind, but it may give them a healthier relationship with it when they do begin using it.

A Community Effort

This initiative isn’t about judging parents or telling anyone what they should do. These can be hard choices.

It’s about giving families an option—and building a community where parents who want to delay smartphones and social media know they’re not alone.

Together, we can give our kids more time for the kind of childhood we all remember:
time outside, time with friends, and time to grow without the constant pull of screens.

Let’s keep our N.M. kids Unplugged!