Research increasingly shows that early exposure to smartphones and social media can negatively affect children’s mental health, attention, and social development.

In recent years, this conversation has gained wider attention through The Anxious Generation, a widely discussed book by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. The ideas in the book have helped inspire a growing movement of parents, educators, and communities who are working together to delay smartphones and social media for children.

The research highlights how, since the early 2010s, childhood has increasingly shifted from real-world play and face-to-face relationships to what researchers describe as a “phone-based childhood.” Constant notifications, online comparison, and endless scrolling are now linked to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and distraction among young people.

Many experts recommend delaying smartphones and postponing social media use so that children have more time to develop independence, friendships, and resilience through real-world experiences.

Importantly, these efforts work best when families act together as a community. When many parents share the same commitment, children feel less social pressure to have a smartphone or social media simply because “everyone else has it.”

For this reason, Gaia School asks families to commit to delaying smartphones and access to social media for their children. As part of the enrollment process, parents are asked to agree to this commitment.

By making this agreement collectively, the Gaia School community helps protect childhood and create a culture that prioritizes connection, play, and well-being over early digital exposure.