27/02/2025
Edric took away our girls’ smartphones (only Tiana had one because Catalina’s broke), and replaced them with Nokia phones that can only do calls and old-school texts. This change happened in January of this year. They still have access to an IPad, but not having smartphones significantly reduced their online usage.
It was hard at the beginning, but they realized they can be happy and still communicate with friends even without smartphones. In fact, they have been much healthier, emotionally and spiritually.
Previously, I wasn’t for giving them smartphones, but I liked that Edric challenged them to earn the money to pay for them. So I thought, okay, they are learning the value of hard work and money. This can be a good thing. Two-years ago, they went to Greenhills and bought second-hand phones with money they earned through various jobs.
Unfortunately, Catalina’s broke down and became unusable within the same year, which I felt was a blessing! However, Tiana, with her working smartphone developed insecurities related to social media use and an addiction to scrolling. It deeply concerned me, and I would tell her to set boundaries. However, this didn’t solve the issue.
Early this year, Edric came across research that highlighted the dangers of smartphones and social media, especially for girls ages 12 to 16. He was convinced that Tiana should dumb down her phone.
I know it was a struggle for Tiana to trade in a smartphone she bought for an ancient Nokia phone. But, she obeyed and understood why. Catalina asked for a Nokia, too.
These phones cost less than 2K each. And the girls contact us through calls or text messaging. They have survived.
I would say they are thriving. They are busy with sports, hobbies, learning new skills, studies, hang-outs with friends and cousins, and they are growing in character.
I know they still want to have smartphones. And we shall see what happens in the future, as they display maturity and growth. But I do believe that delaying smartphones is definitely healthier for kids. There’s so much more to life than being glued to a device for entertainment and communication.
