What The Tech: A Irish town’s pact to keep kids phone free
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
Greystones, Ireland is an unexpected something global to have its beginnings. But it started at a school with about 400 students. ‘It Takes a Village’ was the brainchild of principal Rachel Harper.
“I could see that in children coming in the morning. A hesitation and just nerves,” says Harper.
Anxiety among the youngest children wasn’t unusual. But Harper noticed it happening with older
kids, too. She surveyed parents, teachers, and principals. The results were shocking.
“56% of the parents in Greystones and Dulgany could see an increase in anxiety levels. 100%
of principals could see it,” says Harper. “We just definitely thought it was a significant cause because we live in an age where children have technology in their hands, particularly smartphones. And a click of a button they can reach
adult content.”
So all 8 schools in town joined together to launch “It Takes a Village”, asking parents to make a
pact to wait before giving their kids phones.
“Phones were creeping in around 9 or 10, we thought if we don’t do something now, where will
we be in five years.. Will 5 and 6 year olds start to get them,” says Harper.
And since the community voluntarily agreed, it became easier for parents to say no. And for kids
here, not having a phone has simply become the norm.
“I have never seen anyone my age with a phone,” one boy says. ‘
Three years later, the Greystones experiment is working, and the world is watching.
On the next episode, you will find out how much of an impact has it made on social skills, grades, mental health.
