KIDS FOR NOW

We want kids to be kids a little longer.

We want parents to come together to reduce the impact of smartphones and social media to allow children to enjoy the now, and not lose their most precious years to screens.

Kids For Now is a grassroots movement to empower parents in the UK to get together and agree to delay their childrens access to smartphones and social media. Established in 2022, we work to build local communities of parents delaying smartphones together.

Parents are trapped in a dilemma: We are deeply worried about the impact of smartphones and social media on our children, but, with nearly all children owning a smartphone by the age of 10, the fear that our child will miss-out and be socially excluded or even bullied for not having a phone is also very real. Only by connecting with other parents can we agree together to delay smartphones in our community and keep our kids safe from online harm and addictive apps.

Children don’t need smartphones. For safety, they can stay in touch with a basic phone and they can still learn to use technology positively and safely without owning a smartphone.

In February 2024 our movement became Smartphone Free Childhood. To connect with parents in your area and make a pact please sign-up at Smartphone Free Childhood.

Addiction to social media and smartphones is harming a generation through social anxiety and depression, and putting children at risk of cyber-bullying and exploitation. Children don’t deserve to be burdened with the responsibility of managing these risks. But we fear our child being left out without a smartphone. So, as parents, we face a dilemma: Trapped between giving our child a harmful device and the fear of them being excluded without one.

Many other parents share your concerns and will be pleased to know that your child won’t be getting a smartphone. Less children with smartphones means a safer environment for all children. Evidence suggests smartphones should be delayed until at least the age of 14.

Together we can support each other to delay smartphones and reduce the peer pressure. All you need to do is reach out to other parents and, maybe, form a local chat group together and invite parents who share your concerns. If you need help trying to find like-minded parents in your area you can sign-up on this website. We can connect you via email with others who have already joined our mailing list.

Join us and build a community of parents supporting each other to moderate digital technology in our children’s lives.

Safety

We recognise that mobile phones are an important safety tool. To stay in touch with family and friends children just need a basic mobile phone without an internet connection. So, you can give your child a mobile phone without internet to stay in touch!

Join the movement, sign the Smartphone-Free Childhood pact: