New Movement Supported by Hundreds of Parents Aims to Prohibit Smartphones for Children
Within just five days, hundreds of Australian parents have already joined.
A new movement in Australia is gaining momentum, urging parents to delay their children’s access to smartphones at a young age.
Founded by a group of determined parents, the initiative called ‘Wait Mate’ aims to keep kids away from smartphones until high school.
Co-founder Jessica Mendoza-Roth shared her inspiration from a similar program in the United States.
“I decided to create ‘Wait Mate’ after discovering ‘Wait Until 8th’ during a trip to the U.S. last year,” mentioned the Sydney mom to The Epoch Times.
She added, “This American organization has already received over 60,000 pledges, with several Silicon Valley tech executives supporting the cause by delaying smartphone access for their children until at least 14, recognizing the addictive nature of these devices.”
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Fellow co-founder Amy Friedlander noted a rapid growth in the campaign’s support within just five days of launch.
Currently, there have been more than 800 pledges from 208 Australian schools and 355 student groups.
“Numerous parents have reached out to express gratitude for our stand on this issue, a problem many feel helpless about yet are eager to address,” shared Ms. Friedlander with The Epoch Times.
Both founders highlighted widespread parental backing for the Wait Mate initiative, aiming to unite parents so their children aren’t the only ones without social media.
“Our goal is to empower and support parents in standing together on this matter, connecting them with like-minded parents in their school community through the Wait Mate platform,” Ms. Friedlander explained.
She concluded, “Wait Mate aims to shift the current norm in Australia, advocating against addictive smartphones in primary schools and promoting delayed access until high school at the minimum.”
Ms. Friedlander pointed out the challenge of driving a cultural change but emphasized the mental health risks associated with smartphones.
“Let’s allow our children to enjoy their childhood longer and hold off on smartphones until they are better equipped to handle the distractions and complexities they bring,” she added.
Read more about it here.
The ban, if approved, will cover popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more, with penalties for platforms that violate the regulations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that $6.5 million has been allocated for an online age verification trial by the government.
