I don't necessarily disagree that phones might be harmful for kids' development.
I just don't know if they're nearly as harmful as say, repeated covid infections, a collapsing biosphere, a justifiably bleak vision of their future, or even a prevalent lack of agency, independence, and spaces for socialisation.
I'd focus on those first. Then phones.
@pezmico Totally agree!!!
This year my town's school district is making cell phones the central issue. Not school shootings, climate crisis, or backsliding democracy, all of which I think are more harmful to student mental health than cell phones.
There is now a "Cell Phone Working Group" to address "heightened concern regarding the impact of cell phones on students". They have meetings, workshops, seminars & I get email updates every month. I'm disgusted at how messed up their priorities are.
Ika Makimaki
ikuo