By Mallory Mattingly
Traditional screen time limits just aren’t “enough” to protect kids anymore, author and advocate Clare Morell argues.
“I’ve had so many moms complain that they configure the app store to only show apps rated as appropriate for a 9-year-old, and they still said that their son was advertised adult online dating apps in the app store,” Morell said on former country star Granger Smith’s podcast. “One survey said that one in four 9- to 12-year-old boys have been on an online dating app, which is horrifying.”
As parents continue to “fight a colossal uphill battle,” Morell believes there’s only one solution: no phones.
“I just want [parents] to understand that the best solution is just to totally opt out — that it’s impossible to effectively lock down a smartphone to be safe for a child,” she said.
“I think sometimes parents think that the cost to being on the screen is this opportunity cost of their time spent on the screen versus doing something else. But that’s not the only opportunity cost,” Morell continued. “It’s not just their time, but their actual affections and desires change. They become warped by the screen so that they are actually desensitized to things that are supposed to bring us pleasure in the real world.”
In an article Morell wrote for the Ethics & Public Policy Center, she revealed that “95% of teenagers have access to smartphones and 45% admit they are ‘almost constantly’ online. Mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm, have risen dramatically among adolescents, with early smartphone use linked to long-term issues.”
That’s why in her new book,
“The Tech Exit is essential reading for any parent who has felt stuck between an awareness of the dangers of digital technology for kids and the feeling that tech is necessary and inevitable. Clare Morell’s message is simple and compelling: You and your family can be free. The life you want for your children is within reach,” a synopsis of the book reads.
While freedom from screens is certainly possible, it comes with challenges, too.
In a joint post on social media, Morell and 1000 Hours Outside explained that in past generations, “parents generally didn’t have to be quite so involved in friendships. Kids played freely in neighborhoods. Screens weren’t pulling them indoors. A low-tech culture naturally created more play.”
Related: You Can’t Expect to Limit Your Child’s Screentime Without Doing This First
However, culture has changed dramatically, and “more and more parents are realizing they have to be more intentional” about their kids’ friends.
“Children need friends who aren’t also on screens. And parents need to help their kids find those friends,” Morell said.
If you’re a parent who struggles to keep your kids off devices, consider eliminating screens altogether. This will help your child discover their true passions and desires rather than relying on a constant rush of dopamine.
Read Next: Adolescence Screen Time Spikes Risk of This Mental Health Disorder
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