The Pledge
The Let Them Roam Pledge
Delay smartphones and smart devices until age 14. Delay social media on all devices until age 16. Together, we can preserve childhood, foster stronger connections, and raise resilient kids — without the constant pull of a screen.
There is power in collective action — the more families that commit to the pledge, the easier it will be for our kids to limit the influence of screens.
Takes 30 seconds. We'll never sell your info.
The Research
Why Delay? An Overwhelming Abundance of Research
145%
Rise in teen depression among girls between 2010 and 2015.
— Haidt, The Anxious Generation, 2024
161%
Rise in teen depression among boys in the same period.
— Haidt, The Anxious Generation, 2024
3x
Suicide rates for U.S. teen girls aged 10–14 nearly tripled from 1999 to 2017.
— CDC; The Anxious Generation
71%
Teens spending 5+ hours/day on devices are more likely to exhibit suicide risk factors.
— Twenge & Campbell, 2018
Smartphones impair attention, emotional regulation, and sleep quality during critical developmental years. Kids lose time for play, creativity, and in-person connection — replaced by addictive scrolling and exposure to harmful content.
— AAP, Rosen et al., 2020; Lukianoff & Haidt, 2018
Bottom line: The earlier the access, the greater the risk to mental health, development, and childhood itself.
For deeper research:
Collective Action
Why Collective Parent Action Matters
Critical mass in community action — when parents unite to delay smartphones and smart devices — dramatically improves outcomes.
Creates a Cultural Shift
When whole communities delay smartphones, it becomes the norm, not the exception. When 20–50% of families in one grade delay smartphones, peer pressure significantly drops and in-person socializing rises.
Reduces Peer Pressure
Kids won't feel left out if most of their peers also don't have smartphones. Schools and neighborhoods that adopt collective pledges see reduced tech-related stress and stronger peer relationships.
Builds a Supportive Network
Enables coordinated messaging and consistent boundaries at school, extracurriculars, and social events. Community-wide participation often leads to school-level tech reforms and stronger norms.
Definitions
What counts as a smartphone or smart device?
Smartphones
Mobile phones with internet access and advanced computing capabilities, including app stores, web browsers, games, social media, and video streaming. Examples include iPhone (all models) and Android phones (Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, etc.).
Smart Devices
Internet-connected devices designed for communication, entertainment, or apps. Though they may seem less "phone-like," these devices still offer access to the internet, social media, messaging, and YouTube — making them just as powerful and potentially harmful. The pledge treats them the same as smartphones for purposes of delay.
- iPads and tablets — unless social media (including YouTube), internet, and messaging capabilities are removed, or usage is actively monitored by a parent.
- Apple Watches / Smart Watches — unless social media is disabled and messaging is limited to family.
A note on smartwatches: While Apple Watches or similar smartwatches may offer useful communication features, even robust parental controls aren't foolproof. Between security vulnerabilities and subtle distraction mechanisms, they still present risks — particularly for younger children. For many families, kid-safe devices with limited, well-defined features may be a better, developmentally appropriate alternative.
Alternatives
Alternative Options to Smartphones by Age
No phone. Dedicated kid-safe wearables for call/text only.
- Bot — alternative to smart watch for littles
- Gabb Watch 3 — call/text with approved contacts, no browser, GPS, and SOS button
- Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 — trusted contact list, no app store, GPS, school mode
- Bark Watch
- Pinwheel Watch
- Tin Can Phone — or similar landline that parents can manage via approved contacts, do not disturb time, etc.
iPad/tablet usage OK provided social media (including YouTube), internet, and messaging capabilities are removed, or usage is actively monitored by a parent. No group chats except for nuclear family/cousins.
Consider a basic phone for call/text only, or use kid-safe devices.
- Gabb Phone — no internet, social media, or app store
- Pinwheel — controlled app access, caregiver-approved contacts
- Bark Phone — monitoring tools built in, no access to app store or web
- Light Phone II and III
- Landline or Tin Can Phone
iPad/tablet usage OK provided social media (including YouTube), internet, and messaging capabilities are removed, or usage is actively monitored by a parent.
Gradual, intentional introduction of a smartphone without social media. Continue use of Bark/Pinwheel if appropriate. If a smartphone is introduced, use screen-time controls, phone bed times, app limits, and monitoring.
Social media can be introduced with supervision, limits, and frequent family discussion.
Ready to take the pledge?
Join other Serenbe-area families choosing to delay smartphones until 14 and social media until 16. When we move together, it gets easier for our kids, and for us.
Takes 30 seconds. We'll never sell your info.