Evidence
The evidence is mounting, and it's pretty clear that smartphones have a devastating impact on children and young people.
The Evidence By: Zach Rausch and Jonathan Haidt
Here is why...
Sexual content & behaviour
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Exposing children to sexual & offensive content
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Pressuring girls into sending sexual images of themselves
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Exposing children to sexual abuse & grooming
Physical health
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Damaging children’s eyes
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Contributing to obesity in children
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Preventing children playing outside
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Damaging development of children’s spine
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Stopping kids getting enough sleep
Focus & brain changes
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Addictive
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Reducing children’s academic performance
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Creating structural changes to children’s brains
Mental & emotional health
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Responsible for the huge increase in cyberbullying
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Increasing depression and anxiety in children
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Increasing loneliness in children
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Making children more likely to self-harm
Social development
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Hinder development of social skills and relationships
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Damaging for family relationships
Interviews
Unplugged Rebels NZ original content
Educational Consultant & Co-founder of Conscious kids
Ann Langis
We're very proud to share our very first interview, with Education Consultant Ann Langis. Ann has 25 years of experience in education in New Zealand, from mainstream teaching to forest schooling. She is one of the co-founders of the very well-know outdoor programme Conscious Kids Education and now works as an Education mentor and coach. In this interview, Ann discusses smartphones and her perspective on how we should address technology considering children's developmental stages. You can find Ann at www.annlangisplay.com
Parenting Place & Makes Sense Co-Founder
Holly Brooker
The Parenting Place has been operational since 1993, offering support and encouragement to help New Zealand families thrive. Holly Jean Brooker is a presenter at the Parenting Place. She's also the co-founder of Makes Sense, the campaign that urges internet service providers to strengthen filters against all illegal online content. Holly has discussed various topics with Unplugged Rebels, including the advantages of delaying children's first smartphone, strategies for protection once they have one, the risks associated with social media apps like Snapchat, and the introduction of the first kid-safe phone to the New Zealand market in the coming weeks. You can find Parenting Place at www.parentingplace.nz or Makes Sense at www.makessense.org.nz
Neuroscience Educator
Nathan Wallis
Nathan Wallis is a NZ renowned neuroscience educator known for his engaging and direct parenting advice. He recently discussed with Unplugged Rebels NZ various topics related to smartphones and social media, including the impact of smartphones on anxiety and depression in teenage girls and the movement advocating for legislation on smartphone use in children. Naturally, we posed the million-dollar question we ask all our interviewees: "What do you believe is the ideal age to give a child a smartphone?" You can find Nathan at www.nathanwallis.com
Safesurfer CEO
Rory Birkbeck
Giving the control back to the parents is Safe Surfer's aim, ensuring us parents can manage our children's devices, internet access, and apps effectively. Rory Birkbeck, CEO of this internet filtering company, began his journey out of concern for his own children navigating the digital space unprotected. In an exclusive interview with Unplugged Rebels, he discusses internet safety and the launch of Safe Surfer's pioneering kids-safe phone in collaboration with Samsung.
Tend Health CEO
Cecila Robinson
Cecilia Robinson, co-founder of My Food Bag and CEO of Tend Health, is advocating for the New Zealand government to ban smartphones for children under the age of 16. In this exclusive interview with Unplugged Rebels NZ, Cecilia explains why she thinks that banning social media is not enough and that the government should ban smartphones too. Cecilia has observed the effects of smartphones on children in her work as a public health provider and believes that regulation is necessary to prevent an unprecedented health crisis.
Eye surgeon. Specialist in Paediatric Ophthalmology.
Dr Rasha Altaie
Screens and Eyesight – What Parents Need to Know We are grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Rasha Altaie, a myopia expert and paediatric ophthalmologist based in Auckland. Dr. Altaie has played a key role in establishing the Australia and New Zealand Child Myopia Working Group in response to the rising incidence of myopia. So, what is the main advice for parents to help prevent myopia (nearsightedness) in their children? The message is clear: MORE GREEN TIME, LESS SCREEN TIME.
Social Media Reform Advocate
Camila Dixon
Camila is the driving force behind a Change.org campaign to raise the minimum legal age for social media access to 16. She is also one of our most motivated Ambassadors, working tirelessly in the Auckland East and South areas to spread our movement to delay smartphones and social media. Camila knows firsthand the detrimental effects of social media on children. Initially resistant to giving her 13-year-old a smartphone, she eventually succumbed to social pressure. Within six months, her son fell into a negative spiral, prompting the family to intervene to protect his mental health. Camila is determined to prevent similar experiences for other children, which is why she launched the Change.org campaign to raise the social media minimum age to 16.
Play expert and Politician
Dr Alex Bonham
Alex will discuss her PHD which is around the relationship of play within our cultures and communities. Sharing insights around how play can be shaped by culture and our physical urban environments. As a member of the Waitematā Local Board, which is the forum for local decision-making at Auckland Council, Alex will shed light on how our urban environments can promote or hinder child independence and therefore access to play. You can find more about Alex and her work at www.alexbonham.co.nz
Paediatric Physiotherapist
Dr Jullie Cullen
'We want to draw focus to the skills and use of digital tools that will enhance children's learning and opportunities in an increasingly digital world, but at developmentally appropriate levels.' You can find more about Sensible Screen Time at www.sensiblescreenuse.org
Our Kids Online Speaker
Rob Cope
Our Kids Online was created in 2018 by Rob & Zareen after all four children in their blended family started asking for handheld devices. Having both authored books in the mental health space, the pair were concerned about reports of increases in anxiety and depression in tweens & teens, so undertook further research. You can find more about Our Kids Online at www.ourkidsonline.info
Outdoor education expert
Celia Hogan
The nature education movement has been steadily growing in New Zealand in recent years, with nature kindergartens, one day nature schools, and outdoor holiday programs becoming increasingly popular for children. Celia Hogan, play advocate and the director of Little Kiwis Nature Play in Ōtautahi Christchurch, runs a bush kindergarten, nature based professional development training and is a parenting coach focused on improving well-being and resilience through nature and play. We spoke with Celia about the benefits of nature play for children and how to raise resilient kids in this digital age.
Screen-use researcher
Dr Samantha Marsh
Dr. Samantha Marsh, a Senior Researcher at the University of Auckland, focuses on children's physical and mental health. During her research into the effects of screen use on childhood obesity, she quickly uncovered numerous other harmful impacts of excessive digital exposure on our tamariki. In this interview, Dr. Marsh delivers a clear message: while the government may eventually take action to regulate screen time and social media, it's up to us as parents to protect our tamariki in the meantime.
Helpful Videos
Unplugged Rebels NZ original content
How to turn your smart phone into a dumb phone
Most children get their first smartphone when they move to Intermediate and start catching the bus. The most important thing to remember is that they don't need a smartphone with all the bells and whistles to contact you. Option 1 is to get a "dumbphone" for them. But did you know that you can use one of your old smartphones and convert it into a "dumbphone"? That way you're not spending any money, you're giving your child a way to contact you, and YOU can decide WHAT and WHAT NOT to put in the smartphone. This is how to "dumbify" a Samsung smartphone through Google Link. Now this smartphone only allows texts and calls like our old fashioned phones - it doesn't have a browser, any apps or games or social media!