My nine-year-old daughter is already bugging me for an iPhone, and she – is – persistent.

The good news is I’ve noticed a trend with other parents in her friend group that they won’t be getting phones for their kids until they turn 16. Almost all of them make reference to Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book The Anxious Generation, which explores, among other things, the profound negative impact that social media has on kids and their developing brains.

So many parents I know are talking about this book, many of whom haven’t read any of it, that it feels like some kind of breakthrough awakening for Millennial parents and how to deal with technology in their homes. Everyone’s different of course, so we’ll see what happens when all these kids turn 13 and become even more forceful and articulate in their demands for smartphones.

So that’s cool, I guess.

- Stephen Smysnuik

Australia has introduced a new ban on social media for users under the age of 16 – first country in the world to do so. Many child advocates and parents are largely in support of the ban. These apps are designed to to be as addictive as possible – and the last thing any developing brain needs is an addiction of any kind.

Yet, some argue that the government stepping in to ban these apps for kids would be pointless. Kids will find a way to use these apps anyway, and it could lead to more problems down the line.

Yeehaw, happy Friday!