The Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact
The Parent Pact Reaches 100,000 Signups Nationwide, with 3,406 Families in Kent Joining the Movement
The Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, a digital tool designed to help families delay giving their children smartphones until at least age 14 and social media until 16, has surpassed a major milestone—over 100,000 signups in just six months. In Kent, 3,406 parents have joined the initiative, spanning 419 schools across the county. Among the schools leading the way are Claremont Primary School in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sussex Road Community Primary School in Tonbridge, and Sandgate Primary School in Folkestone, where up to 50% of families have signed the pact.
Launched last September by the grassroots movement Smartphone Free Childhood, the Parent Pact empowers families to resist the increasing pressure to introduce smartphones at younger ages. In the UK today, a fifth of 3- and 4-year-olds own a smartphone, a quarter of 5- to 7-year-olds do, and by age 12, just 11% remain smartphone-free.
The movement continues to mobilize parents nationwide to push back against Big Tech’s addictive algorithms, which contribute to UK teenagers spending an average of 4-6 hours per day—equivalent to a full-time job—on their smartphones. Reflecting this shift, sales of ‘brick phones,’ which allow communication without internet access, doubled in the year the movement gained traction.
Pacts have been signed across the UK, now covering 40% of schools nationwide. A host of celebrities have also pledged their support to mark the 100k milestone, including:
- Joe Wicks
- Paloma Faith
- Emma Willis
- Jamie Redknapp
- Aisling Bea
- Zack George (Steel from Gladiators)
- Sara Pascoe
- Myleene Klass
- Nathalie Cassidy
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Rachel Stevens
- Dr. Chris van Tulleken
- Emma Barnett
- Sara Davies MBE
- Kate Silverton
- Sophie Hunter
- Louise Boyce (Mama Still Got It)
- Jamelia
- Poppy Okotcha
- Anna Jones
- Dr. Zoe Williams
- Meera Sodha
- Anna Whitehouse (Mother Pukka)
- Rachel Ama
- Joeli Brierly (Founder, Pregnant Then Screwed)
- Lucy Jones
- Anna Mathur
- Anita Asante
- Clover Stroud
A Growing Movement for Healthier Childhoods
Daisy Greenwell, co-founder and director of Smartphone Free Childhood, emphasized the urgency of the issue:
*“Over the past decade, childhood has transformed dramatically due to smartphones, making this the defining parenting challenge of our time. With no regulation to protect children, parents are faced with an impossible choice—give in to the pressure or risk their child feeling isolated as the only one without a smartphone.
The overwhelming response to the Parent Pact proves just how many families are ready to stand together against Big Tech’s influence. It’s inspiring to see so many well-known figures lending their voices to this cause. Regardless of background, every parent wants their child to grow and learn free from corporate-driven digital distractions.”*
Making an Impact in Schools and Communities
The Parent Pact’s influence is already being felt in schools across the UK. Parents can see how many others in their school and class have signed, helping to build supportive communities through the SFC WhatsApp network.
Felicity Winkles, a regional leader for SFC Kent, highlighted the growing local support:
“It’s amazing to see so many parents in Kent feeling empowered to delay smartphone use just a little longer. The more families that sign up, the stronger the movement becomes—children are happier to wait when they know their friends are, too.”
Singer Paloma Faith also shared her experience:
“I love what the Smartphone Free Childhood movement is doing. As a single mum, I allowed my children occasional access to my phone, and that was fine for a while. But when I took it away, the change was immediate—they slept better, were more focused, imaginative, and just better company. My 8-year-old was constantly begging for a smartphone until I installed a landline—now she loves prank calling my friends, just like I did at her age! I’m glad she’ll avoid the superficial pressures of smartphones during her teenage years.”
Join the Movement
Signing the Parent Pact takes just a few seconds. Sign up here: https://parentpactresults.smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/
For more information, resources, and support, visit: www.smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk
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