Why set this campaign up?
There are many reasons why this campaign is needed.
Below, we have compiled a list of relevant websites, each providing ample evidence of the risks and harms to children & young people associated with smartphone use and online activity, including:
access to inappropriate content / violence / porn / ads
risk of peer pressure / bullying
risk of being groomed / contacted by strangers
negative impact on social skills, attention-span, self-image etc
negative impact on wellbeing (rise in depression, anxiety, self-harm)
disruption of sleep
Despite widespread awareness of the risks and harms, parents often feel cornered into giving their children access to smartphones and social media because they feel the alternative isn’t much better - that their child will be the odd one out, excluded from friend group chats, plans etc.
Parents want to keep their children safe, but they also want to ensure their child fits in with their friends. The choice is currently a lose-lose situation. The only winners are the tech companies, who are making billions in profits by getting children addicted to their devices and platforms.
Let’s change the narrative. Together we can. At Rebels Unplugged, we want age 16+ to become the minimum age that children are given access to smartphones and social media. Let’s create a new norm, and ease the pressure on each other, on parents, children, young people and schools.
Evidence
Click the links below for evidence of the risks and harms to children and young people: