How to set up a Smartphone Free Childhood WhatsApp community in your country
So, you’re thinking of starting a Smartphone Free Childhood WhatsApp group where you live? Amazing. You’re not alone – people from all over the world are coming together to support healthier, happier childhoods, and we’re thrilled you want to be part of that.
Whether you’re in São Paulo or Stockholm, New Delhi or New York – this guide will help you get started.
1. First, check if there’s already a group for your country
Someone might’ve already set one up! You can check the global group index here.
If there isn’t one yet – brilliant. You get to plant the flag.
2. Set up your WhatsApp group
Just create a new group on WhatsApp and give it a clear name like:
Smartphone Free Childhood – France
This will help others find you and join the conversation in your corner of the world.
3. Add these group guidelines & disclaimer to your group description
To be listed on our website, groups need to include the following disclaimer in the group description:
Disclaimer
Smartphone Free Childhood international groups are independent, self-organising and self-governing.
The views shared in these WhatsApp groups don’t necessarily reflect those of the wider SFC movement.
Smartphone Free Childhood UK is not responsible for the set-up or running of international groups outside the UK.
Group Guidelines
SFC WhatsApp groups are places to connect, share ideas, and support one another. A few simple ground rules...
- No promotional posts
- No abusive language, hate speech or bullying
- Keep the conversation focused on the mission: helping kids delay getting smartphones
- Please don’t post disturbing or inappropriate images
- Avoid spreading fear or doom – this movement is about hope and action
- Admins may remove members who don’t follow these principles
4. Take a moment to read our terms & conditions
5. Shape your group in whatever way works for your community
You’re in charge – it’s your group, your country, your movement. You can:
- Invite others to start local or school-based WhatsApp groups under your national one
- Use it as an open chat space, or keep it closed for key announcements
- Connect multiple groups via Linktree or another tool
Need some inspiration? Watch a 10-minute video on how the UK movement got started.
Watch the video here.
6. Join the global SFC WhatsApp leaders group (if you want to)
This is a space for organisers around the world to share ideas, questions and support.
Here’s the link to join.
7. A quick note about support from SFC UK HQ
We’d love to be able to help everyone individually – but we’re a tiny team (think kitchen-table-tiny), and for now we don’t have the capacity to respond to international queries beyond what’s in this guide.
We’re so inspired by the energy and initiative coming from people around the world. But for now, SFC groups outside the UK are fully independent and self-organised.
8. Our resources are free to use, adapt and translate
Everything we create is open source for non-commercial use. That means you’re totally welcome to use, share, tweak, and translate anything we publish, as long as it’s aligned with our mission and not being used for profit.
9. Share your group with us!
Once your group is live, send us the link and we’ll add it to our global index so others can find you.
And if you’re up for it, share updates with us – we love hearing (and sharing) stories from SFC groups around the world.
We’re cheering you on 🙌