It's a big debate among parents: When is the right time to get kids a smartphone?
Families gathered at Hug High School on Tuesday to watch a documentary and talk about the issue.
Wait Until 8th Reno-Sparks put on the event to invite parents to watch a documentary about the effects social media has on kids.
Organizers say they've seen a large number of young kids struggling with in-person communication and mental health issues, and they say it all connects to having early access to a smartphone.
Brandi Vesco, who is Co-Leader of Wait Until 8th Reno-Sparks, said, "So I'm actually hearing from, like, kindergarten teachers and first-grade teachers. Kids are coming in with speech delays because they haven't done a lot of actual talking with people. They're hearing and watching people talk on a screen, but it's not the same. It's not giving their brain what it needs. Same goes for making eye contact.”
Wait Until 8th is led by parents in the community with the hopes of encouraging parents throughout Nevada to wait until after eighth grade to give their kids a smartphone.
This is not only to help improve their kids' communication skills and mental health, but to give parents more time to teach their kids about the dangers that come with internet access.
Organizers told us that having such easy access to explicit content can lead kids to low self-esteem.
Vesco also told us, "I do think we need to teach our kids digital street smarts, how to know when someone's trying to groom you, the fact that these algorithms are trying to keep you on there and sort of trick you into staying and getting money after you, the data that they're taking from you when you sign up."
Organizers tell us they know it's hard for parents to feel like they're the only ones not giving their kids a smartphone, but that's why they encourage parents to come to events like these to pledge to wait together.
People who attended shared a few tips for parents who want to start the transition away from phones.
Susan Jansson, an event attendee, told us, "Why don't we ride bikes together? And let's leave the phones here. And then we'd have fun, and then I would suggest, 'Well, that was fun. How about if we do more things without the phone?' And then we can all be together. And I would focus on what the opportunities are that we don't even take advantage of because we're so busy with the phone."
Organizers tell us it's okay to change your mind and take your kids' phones back or look into ways you can monitor what your kids have access to on their phones.
