Melanie Hempe author of The Screen Strong Solution and founder of Screenstrong.org has produced this blogpost jam packed with practical ideas for a summer digital detox including no-nonsense suggestions such as:

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1. Firing the TV ‘babysitter’-make sure summer is not a time for TV!
2. Sending smartphones on vacation – Hempe suggests swapping your teen’s (and what not extend it to ours!) smartphone for a brick phone through the vacation.
3. Removing video games for the summer
4. Firing the Tablet ‘babysitter’
5. Don’t let your children be in charge of all activities this summer-taking the onus off them to fill time and default to ‘low effort high reward activities’ such as screen time is a great way to keep motivation high.

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In the spirit of putting faces to the Look Up Hong Kong smartphone free childhood movement, in this first newsletter we will be interviewing Robert Broad, founder of Look Up Hong Kong to find about the man behind the organization.

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Before we delve into your work in launching this group, can please tell us a bit about who you are?

Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Hong Kong has now been my home for 27 years. I work in healthcare communications and have a son who is nearly  9 years old and attends an ESF school.

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What motivated you to start the WhatsApp group that was the precursor to Look Up Hong Kong?

Increasingly saddened to see the dehumanizing impact of smartphones and social media on all aspects of our life, society and interactions, I started to think if we adults struggle and suffer under the weight of these technologies, what hope is there for my son and other kids?

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How can I help him realize his potential with an appreciation and respect for nature and people, equipped with the real-world experiences and knowledge to build strong relationships and foundations that will help him flourish in this and our future world?

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I was kickstarted into action by a sense of feeling overwhelmed and defeated by the smartphone behaviours modelled by everyone – at the bus stop, restaurants, playgrounds, school, home – the sense of inevitability and lack of agency to make decisions for the wellbeing of my son was stifling. Spurred on by this and a conversation with my spouse, where the clear options emerged – either give our son a smartphone, against our better judgement, or risk potential social isolation,  I decided I wanted to “change the world” or at least the conversation around smartphones and children. I knew I wanted to empower parents with information and choices to make informed decisions in these regards.

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I started scrolling through like-minded parent groups looking for any numbers starting with 852. And I reached out, and found other parents interested in starting a movement in Hong Kong. We launched our WhatsApp group that very day on 18th April 2024.  

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What has the response from the HK community to your movement been like? Have you encountered any challenges or resistance?

The response has been nothing short of exhilarating – within 3 months old, we built a community that represented more than 50 schools and more than 1,000 parents from all corners of Hong Kong – and we are continuing to grow. We have seen: new conversations taking place; parent pacts being implemented in our schools; an enormous outpouring of gratitude and support for the efforts of the movement and the creation of the working group of parents that drive our program forward.

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Our biggest challenge is time – not just finding it around the demands of work and home – but also wishing we could do more, faster with what time we do have. The other challenge for us on the working group is the irony of needing to spend more time on our smartphones and coming to terms with our unease to leverage these social and digital technologies to advance our cause!

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As the founder of Look Up Hong Kong, how has your personal journey and experiences shaped your commitment to this cause and the direction this is taking?

I loved my childhood in South Africa – sure, as a swimmer in a nation of football/rugby players, it had its challenges – but I had an outdoorsy, freedom to move and mingle with the wonders and peoples of my country that taught me to respect nature and the diversity and beauty of life and people. I want the same for my son.

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When we first encountered smartphones, we had no idea as adults what impact they would have on our world and our wellbeing – now, the evidence is in, now we know better and we need to do better for our kids. One of the anecdotes burned in my mind is: “Give your child a smartphone when you want their childhood to end”. And a corollary to that: “Give your child a smartphone when you’re ready for them to see pornography”. This steels me every day to continue to find the strength to keep trying to build awareness and support, and empower the community to do what’s best for our children.

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This journey is certainly not going to take place without challenges, with this in mind, what would be your greatest wish for the movement?

It’s clear from our research that our community unanimously wants smartphone free schools in Hong Kong – if we can help our parents open conversations with schools that will evolve the policy around smartphones in our schools, that would be a success. If we can build a community of like-minded parents that is truly representative of the diversity of Hong Kong, that would be a success. If we can introduce pacts that see parents holding off on giving smartphones to their kids until they’re 14 or older, that would be a success. And – reaching for the stars – if we can keep our kids off social media until 16 years or older, that would be a victory.

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As parents we’ve been put in an impossible situation: there’s no judging anyone who’s given their child a smartphone. This is a divisive issue and we’re all trying to do what’s best for our children: Together we can have an impact on the culture and conversations around children and smartphones in Hong Kong.

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Recently, Ross Parker led a talk for parents inspired by his recent book, “Screens That Eat Children.” This event took place at Carmel School and also featured opening remarks by Carmel Principal Rachel Friedmann. Nearly 100 parents attended.

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Ross’ talk focused on sharing his experiences as an educator and parent, following his journey from a technologist passionate about the potential of technology to inspire young people all the way to more of a technology skeptic, especially around the impact of smartphones and similar technologies. He shared specific examples of how smartphones can harm children’s development and also practical guidelines parents can implement at home to reduce the negative impact of screens on their children.

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Specifically, he highlighted how the portable nature of more recent screens (such as laptops, iPads, video game consoles, and smartphones) make them particularly dangerous for children. He suggested that parents could help children have more balance by keeping these screens in areas like the living room and away from bedrooms. Additionally, he shared about the powerful, addictive algorithms that drive technology such as smartphones, social media, and video games. Evidence is mounting about the impact of these technologies on children and teenagers’ mental health, and schools and parents must do more to protect children in their care.

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Ross also shared his experiences giving his teenage son more freedom in the real world – to ride his bike, to run errands for the family. In order to support our children having meaningful lives away from smartphones, we should work to give them well-scaffolded freedom outside in the community. Ensuring that we support our children in having adequate rest, time in nature, and time to play is essential so that they can develop as well functioning adults who will be able to thrive in a connected, digital world.

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Ross also shared ways that schools can support parents – and how parents can support schools – in supporting children’s learning and healthy development. Ultimately, we must work together to help change the culture around smartphone and social media use among children and teenagers.

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“The Anxious Generation” (2024) by Jonathan Haidt is a great first read for parents keen to access literature on the impact of smartphone usage on children and young people.

About the author: Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and Professor of Ethical Leadership at the New York University Stern School of Business. His previous books include ‘The Coddling of the American Mind’ (2018) and ‘The Righteous Mind’ (2012).

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Who should read it?

• Parents and carers concerned about their children’s smartphone use.
• Educators, childcare, medical and mental health professionals concerned by the prevalence of mental illness among children and young people.
• Anyone who feels they/loved ones have unhealthy relationships with smartphones

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What’s it about?

This book shines a light on two alarming trends-the decline of play-based childhood and the rise of smartphone addiction among teens. These, Haidt argues, are fuelling anxiety and other mental health problems in Gen Z. Backed by evidence-based research, Haidt’s book explores how this profound shift disrupts healthy, adolescent development. Alongside compelling data, The Anxious Generation offers guidance for parents on how to address this growing crisis and foster safe, nurturing environments that children need to thrive.

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Why is it such an important read?

• The data rich text draws on recent research to both highlight pertinent trends whilst also offering practical, research-backed solutions for readers.
• Haidt’s analysis is incredibly thought provoking and challenges conventional wisdom. It is an important and comprehensive read for anyone navigating the pressures of contemporary society.

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