A video for families feeling the smartphone pressure

This short film is made for families navigating the tricky years of phone pressure – helping kids see the bigger picture and parents feel less alone.

We know how tough delaying smartphones can feel. Parents want to protect their kids’ wellbeing, but at the same time children are surrounded by classmates and adverts telling them a smartphone is essential. 

That’s why we’ve made something new to help: a short video designed to spark honest, supportive discussions between parents and children about why waiting a few more years to get a smartphone is a good idea.

This brand new 10-minute film is designed for children aged 10–13 – those tricky years when the pressure to get a phone can feel overwhelming. It’s short, lively, and made to be watched together.

What’s inside the video?

The film moves quickly through some of the biggest ideas shaping childhood today. In just a few minutes, it helps kids see the bigger picture behind the phone pressure they’re feeling:

• How smartphones changed the world – putting endless information, entertainment and communication in our pockets.
  
  
• How they’re designed to grab attention – the tricks tech companies use to keep people scrolling.
  
  
• The hidden superpowers of waiting – why holding off means you’re ahead – more confidence, stronger friendships, better grades and better sleep.
  
  
• What teenagers themselves think – hearing directly from young people about their experiences on smartphones, and why they’re not all they’re cracked up to be.
  
  

Why we made it

For years, parents have told us they struggle to explain why waiting matters. Kids often see smartphones as a ticket to belonging – the thing that will finally make them feel included. But what they don’t see is the business model behind the screen, or the huge developmental benefits of growing up without constant digital distraction.

This video is our way of bridging that gap. It gives children a chance to hear the message in a fresh, engaging way – not just from adults, but from other young people too.

How to use it

We suggest making time to sit down and watch it together. Ten minutes is all it takes, but it could open the door to some of the most important conversations you’ll have with your child this year.

Ask what stood out to them. Share what you noticed. And most of all, keep the dialogue open – because the smartphone question isn’t a one-off, it’s something families navigate over time.

Share it on

If you find the video useful, please pass it on. Forward it to friends, share it in school groups, or send it to relatives. The more families see it, the easier it becomes for children to understand they’re not alone in holding off.

Together, we can give kids the space they need to grow up healthier, happier – and smartphone-free for a little longer.

‍