https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/most-australian-teens-admit-social-111400429.html?guccounter=1
https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/state-of-our-unions-2026-the-dating-recession

As predicted by many in several threads on TexAgs, the new age verification laws to prevent kids under 16 from using social media are not working. In Australia, more than 60% of 12-15 year-olds that have a social media account are still using it, despite a pervasive ban.

I strongly suspect the percent is at least as high for teens viewing porn and R-rated video games (also outlawed).

The obvious alternative is to build a nanny into all computers and cell phones operating systems to extract DNA samples and continuously monitor who is viewing and match it to screen content.

<insert govern me harder meme> </sarcasm>

Young adults have forgotten how to interact socially at a personal level. 67% percent of single men are not dating, and it is 75% of young women (22-35).

Kids became addicted to screens largely because parents found it easier than supervising and raising their kids. If parents want to fix this they now need to find something to replace it. OR THEY COULD JUST TAKE AWAY THE PHONES.

RikkiTikkaTagem said:

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It's been easier having never giving them the phone at all.

Have four kids. They get minimal screen time each day.

The ONLY time they get extended screen time is long car trips (3+ hours).

It's very hard but just interact with them and don't give them a screen unless you 100% have to

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My hero is one of my cardiologists. At 17, his eldest got a phone, this year.

Classic lefty move. We want X behavior to happen so we're going to create a law for it. They'd never advocate for parents to be more responsible with their own children. That's asking way too much.
Daddy government can do it so much better.

ts5641 said:

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Classic lefty move. We want X behavior to happen so we're going to create a law for it. They'd never advocate for parents to be more responsible with their own children. That's asking way too much.
Daddy government can do it so much better.

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Both sides think Daddy Government can do it better. Texas House Bill 1181 had only one vote against age verification for porn sites.

Other states with similar laws.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.

Not exactly a list of democratic strongholds.

It's almost like rules, regulations and bans imposed by the nanny-state government don't work...

Some kids at my daughter's old (public) school got phones as early as 3rd grade. She never pushed, but did ask us every once in a while to which we said no.

In her new private school, phones are banned during schools hours, but lots is kids still have them in their lockers.

We got her an Apple Watch last summer and that had pretty much calmed her down. It can make calls and she can receive text messages, but it can't do apps like social networking, YouTube, etc. it's been a pretty good compromise

I did give my kids "smart" phones until their 2nd year of high school (10th grade). They were probably the only kids without one in their first year of HS. For their 1st year of HS, I got them a Samsung flip phone. Call and message so I can pick them up, that is it. No apps.

Also, I forbade my daughter from going on instagram. Her friends are all posting pictures of themselves and she does not. I did not just ban it, I explained why, that it is to protect her. This is very important.

Now it is also true that you may not be able to 100% do a fool-proof job but cut off all the obvious ones and you are in good shape.

When the kids get older, they are free to do as they please. But hopefully they are mature then and know what is best for them. Not when they are 15, I make them rules for them at that age. Girls are at much more risk from social media than boys.

Most dads today don't have the balls to say no to their kids. They care about their image more than parenting their own kids. I did have to face some social pressure but I don't care.

RikkiTikkaTagem said:

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It's been easier having never giving them the phone at all.

Have four kids. They get minimal screen time each day.

The ONLY time they get extended screen time is long car trips (3+ hours).

It's very hard but just interact with them and don't give them a screen unless you 100% have to

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Well, long trips are meant for enjoying the trip and conversing as a family, not for being glued to a gadget. Or napping. People don't need to be "entertained" every minute they are awake. They may complain but they soon get used to not being stimulated ever waking second.

Over_ed said:

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RikkiTikkaTagem said:

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It's been easier having never giving them the phone at all.

Have four kids. They get minimal screen time each day.

The ONLY time they get extended screen time is long car trips (3+ hours).

It's very hard but just interact with them and don't give them a screen unless you 100% have to

---

My hero is one of my cardiologists. At 17, his eldest got a phone, this year.

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This is pretty cool. Kids don't need phones to waste time on.

Only reason is to call them to pick up from school and from events like sports. I found that a challenge without a phone so I got them a flip phone.

Kansas Kid said:

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ts5641 said:

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Classic lefty move. We want X behavior to happen so we're going to create a law for it. They'd never advocate for parents to be more responsible with their own children. That's asking way too much.
Daddy government can do it so much better.

---

Both sides think Daddy Government can do it better. Texas House Bill 1181 had only one vote against age verification for porn sites.

Other states with similar laws.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.

Not exactly a list of democratic strongholds.

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Also not a list of conservative strongholds...just "Republican".

There's an organization or movement called "Wait till 8th" which encourages parents to give their kids their first smart phone at the end of 8th grade: https://www.waituntil8th.org/

MTV is turning the kids brains to mush

In my technological utopia kids wouldn't get smart phones until they're teenagers, but there would be a class in school every year where they take their phone out of the box and put it back at the end of class. they learn how to master it as a tool and learn to think of it that way. In fact, I could use that class.

I am in favor of a children's phone that can only call two numbers, both number should be for a parent. Nothing else.

As thirty something old parents of a 2.5, 1.5, and 5 month old….we manage to keep away from screens out of the house.

We watch bluey and some Moana at home and that's it..although we found the two and half year old really likes watching trash trucks and excavators highlights which is kinda cool. A lot of people out there on the spectrum filming random stuff

Hit the subscribe button and follow me for more parenting tips.

DO NOT FOLLOW US for tips on abstinence. Oops

My screen was an Etch-a-Sketch.

Squadron7 said:

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My screen was an Etch-a-Sketch.

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Not a chisel and a stone tablet?

My kids are 10 and 12 and were asking for phones last week.

"No."

It's just that easy. They don't need them. Maybe when they can drive.

Ogre09 said:

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My kids are 10 and 12 and were asking for phones last week.

"No."

It's just that easy. They don't need them. Maybe when they can drive.

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We gave my old Apple Watch to my daughter when she turned 11. It allows her to communicate without social media and we can keep track of her. Win win.

IIIHorn said:

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Squadron7 said:

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My screen was an Etch-a-Sketch.

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Not a chisel and a stone tablet?

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You're not responding to CanyonAg77, so...no.

My 12 and 10 year old don't have phones or tablets. We have a Chromebook that they can use for schoolwork but they've got to be in the living room with one of us when they use it.

We recently got them Apple watches but they are locked down. They can call and text my wife and I and grandparents. We got them so if they are running around they are running around the neighborhood we can call each other if needed. They only can use them when they are leaving by themselves or with friends. It's a tool, not a toy.

Our house is one of the main hangout houses in the neighborhood so we always have kids here. I'm pretty sure I feed some of these kids more than their parents do. While we can't control whether these other parents give their kids a phone, my wife setup a basket in the entryway that everyone knows their phone has to go into when they come over.

I tell my son that he'll thank me later when he is able to talk to girls in real life while most of his competition can barely talk to anyone in person because they have no social skills.

My grand babies are not allowed to read books. Only the holy bible.

falconace said:

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My 12 and 10 year old don't have phones or tablets. We have a Chromebook that they can use for schoolwork but they've got to be in the living room with one of us when they use it.

We recently got them Apple watches but they are locked down. They can call and text my wife and I and grandparents. We got them so if they are running around they are running around the neighborhood we can call each other if needed. They only can use them when they are leaving by themselves or with friends. It's a tool, not a toy.

Our house is one of the main hangout houses in the neighborhood so we always have kids here. I'm pretty sure I feed some of these kids more than their parents do. While we can't control whether these other parents give their kids a phone, my wife setup a basket in the entryway that everyone knows their phone has to go into when they come over.

I tell my son that he'll thank me later when he is able to talk to girls in real life while most of his competition can barely talk to anyone in person because they have no social skills.

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My wife said it is like everyone is aiming for the social skills of a chubby gamer. The guys from War Games, to date me and her a bit. :-)

I know it has been discussed here already, but The Anxious Generation is a great read.

It talks all about how social media and smart phones have completely changed childhood, for the worse, and it's affecting our children's development negatively.

Like most things, this is not something that the government can solve. It takes informed parents. I guess the only thing that would help is raising the age to sign up for an account above 13 years old, but there are already millions of instances of parents either not caring or signing up anyway that it wont matter either way, and anything MORE would just be nanny-state type stuff.

Look at Australia. They banned social media for kids under 16 a few months ago. And it's already not working.

ts5641 said:

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Classic lefty move. We want X behavior to happen so we're going to create a law for it. They'd never advocate for parents to be more responsible with their own children. That's asking way too much.
Daddy government can do it so much better.

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Weird how hard all the "conservatives" fought for a similar age verification law in Texas. It was all for the children, didn't you know that? How dare you tell them asking for more government is the opposite of conservative!

BigRobSA said:

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IIIHorn said:

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Squadron7 said:

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My screen was an Etch-a-Sketch.

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Not a chisel and a stone tablet?

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You're not responding to CanyonAg77, so...no.

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Doh!

Are you sure he doesn't use a stick and dirt?

Or a combine?

My kid got her first cell phone at 12. But she also has vigilant parents who took an active role in her life and taught her how to live responsibly. She's graduating next week Magna Cum Laude with honors from Texas A&M and starts grad school at the Mays School in June.

It ain't the technology y'all. It's the parenting.

Yeah my 11 year old (going to 6th grade next year) has been asking for one and saving up for one. Originally it was a no, since he already has an Amigo watch where he can call us and a pre-approved list of people, but he wants to be able to text his friends.

After reading the Anxious Generation, I think we are going to have strict rules, no social media at all, phone charges downstairs at bedtime, always in backpack never out at school, etc. He's a rule follower, so I think it will work out, but we will be monitoring him very closely.

I think it's a mistake to just buy kids a phone and then let them do whatever with it.

My two young kids (9 & 3) have gotten way too much screen time. I recently talked to my wife about the situation(she caused it) and we have agreed to wean them off slowly. They never had cart blanch on the internet, and if my oldest was watching a YouTube channel that had cuss words, I made him change it.

But weaning them off screens is like detoxing a heroin addict. I beat myself up over letting it get this bad. My only saving grace is that my 9 yo is very athletic and competitive, so I can get him off the Kindle with sports, my little girl screams for mommy's phone pretty regularly. She knows not to ask for mine

On a bit of a different si next but the cell phone ban in Texas schools has been enormously successful.

I'm sure many of you will comment that there are teachers and kids cheating it and all of that…. Of course there are.

But in the several school districts my wife has taught in, the one she teaches in now, the one that my kids attend, and the ones my sisters' kids attend, usage has dropped 95%+. Biggest no brainer decision in a long time.

If you live in a school district that is not complying hold them accountable at all levels. It works and is a big win.

My thinking is simple. My kid is not getting a tablet or a phone. He is getting a think pad with a wiped partition and an Arch Linux install manual.

i just started reading this book. really interesting so far, makes me glad i'm old enough to have missed all this nonsense as a kid

We used to have very strict screen time rules for our kids when they were younger...and then....they closed the daycares and schools for 2 months while my wife and I were both working from home. My son started kindergarten on zoom classes, which went about as well as you would expect.

My daughter was 2 and we had to find something for her to do semi-supervised that wasn't painting on my walls.

Both of these things lead to both of them having access to screens much more, and you are right, it is hard to ween them off. If I tell them to get off and do something, they both do it, but they are almost incapable of being bored.