Saying No To Smartphones
Blaze TV’s "Zero Hour" with James Poulos, a big victory in Utah, and whether Section 230 applies to generative AI
Is giving your kid a smartphone akin to handing them a dose of fentanyl? In my recent interview on BlazeTV’s "Zero Hour" with James Poulos, I discuss why parents shouldn't fall for the tech industry's false promise of safety through screen-time limits and parental controls. The harsh reality is clear: smartphones are designed to addict and harm, driving unprecedented spikes in teen anxiety, depression, and isolation.
What if there's a better path? Listen in as I share insights from my forthcoming book, The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, and reveal how families can thrive by saying no to digital drugs.
The hour-long sit-down interview with James Poulos covered a wide-array of topics and went further than many superficial analyses of social media and smartphones by diagnosing the ailments of our digital age as symptoms of a deeper spiritual problem, that screens are determining how a child understands their purpose in life, which then requires a deeper solution: opting out entirely. I share with James, that “I ended up interviewing dozens [of families] for my book and found that not only was it possible to opt out completely from these addictive digital technologies, but these families were flourishing. Their grown children in college were grateful that they had not been given smartphones; they saw the differences even among their peers on the college campus.” Read a summary of the interview here and watch the full interview here.
Changing Hearts and Changing Minds
Across the country, schools that implemented cellphone bans initially faced fierce opposition from students and anxious parents. Yet after experiencing a phone-free school day, the results surprised everyone: kids became more engaged, mental health improved, and genuine friendships flourished.
As I explore in my latest piece for Commonplace, school cellphone bans aren’t just beneficial—they demonstrate a crucial truth: sometimes policy change must precede public support. Once screens are taken away, families quickly realize the hidden costs they've been paying all along.
Read the full piece here.
In Case You Missed It:
Big Win in Utah: In a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) spotlight the influence of IFS and the Ethics and Public Policy Center, alongside other advocates, in helping pass Utah’s groundbreaking App Store Accountability Act.
Five Actions Congress Can Take Now to Protect Children Online: The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) blog published my opening remarks to members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, in a March 26 hearing titled “The World Wide Web: Examining Harms Online.”
Generative AI Should NOT Receive Section 230 Immunity: Forbes Breaking News highlighted my response to a question from Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) at the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade’s March 26 hearing on whether Section 230 protections should apply to generative AI. My answer was an unequivocal “No.”
I've found that the best way to get children away from their devices, is by marching them outside first thing to see the sunrise. Resetting our light environment can not only change our hormones for the better, it can shift one's genetic destiny forever.