The Wait Until 8 pledge will empower parents to unite together to delay giving children smartphones. By rallying together, we have the potential to create an environment and community to decrease the pressure felt to provide our children with a smartphone and access to social media before they are mature or ready.
Unfiltered smartphones and social media are very distracting and potentially dangerous for children, yet we have seen that they are widespread amongst elementary school-age children for many reasons, including, perhaps, because of the social pressure and expectations to have one.
At Netivot, we understand that these devices are rapidly changing childhood for children. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and quality family time is happening a lot less as a result of children (and adults) spending considerable amounts of time on smartphones, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and YouTube (among other things).
We have heard from many parents that they feel helpless and that delaying providing an unfiltered smartphone and social media apps is an ‘uphill battle’. Children are afraid of isolation and have a fear of missing out if most of their classmates have access to an unfiltered smartphone or certain social media apps.
We believe that providing community support from our close-knit Netivot Mishpacha can help delay the ever-rising and evolving presence of unfiltered smartphone and social media use in children. We believe this can be a positive force for change and preservation of the values we hold near and dear.
Let’s unite together to wait until at least the end of Grade 8 before our children are allowed to have an unfiltered smartphone and access to social media.
This pledge is geared to encourage parents to delay giving their children access to an unfiltered smartphone and access to certain social media apps.
For the children that need access to a phone to communicate when travelling alone or when out of the house can consider some great basic phones (‘flip phones’), older model smartphones that do not have access to the internet, gaming apps or social media apps, or a filtered smartphone (which you can learn more about here).
Childhood is too short and precious to waste on a smartphone and social media. Take the pledge today!