Childhood has changed drastically over the last decade. Long hours of free play have all but disappeared, replaced by long hours behind a screen. As we sit in the midst of an adolescent mental health crisis, the negative impacts of a screen-based childhood can no longer be ignored.

Parents across Santa Barbara County are waking up to the reality that smartphones and social media are harming our children. These parents have banded together to create a new local norm: smartphones and social media are not for children! This grassroots effort has been spearheaded by TechWell and Goleta Parents for Tech Reform. You can follow the movement on our Facebook page: Delay the Smartphone SB.

Join the movement to delay smartphones today!

• Sign the Wait Until 8th Pledge

• Make sure your child starts with a “basic” phone (without internet/social media). Find a list of options here.

• If you’ve already given your child a smartphone, consider removing access to the internet and social media. Instructions for how to do this on an iPhone can be found here.

• Reach out to your child’s principal to advocate for bell-to-bell phone-free schools!