10,000 parents reveal toll of smartphone addiction and best ‘dumb’ phones around

An Aussie mum has revealed how smartphones have affected her family, as new data shows 10,000 parents’ concerns about screen addiction. Plus, we show you the best ‘dumb’ phones on offer.

Exclusive: Parents are breaking down in tears over their children’s smartphone obsession, which is the overwhelming driver of arguments in the family home, new research has found.

The study of 10,000 parents across five countries, including Australia, also found smartphones have changed their children’s personalities — and nearly 80 per cent of parents regret giving their kids a device.

A further 55 per cent of parents who responded to the poll, commissioned by Human Mobile Devices (HMD), said phones were a major source of arguments, with one third (33 per cent) admitting they had cried over their child’s use.

And of the 2000 Australian parents which took part in the survey, more than 80 per cent (1600) called for schools to educate children about social media dangers, with many (1280) advocating for tougher classroom phone bans.

Smartphones are changing children’s personalities according to a study commissioned by Human Mobile Devices (HMD). Picture: Supplied

The dire findings come in the same week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to legislating age limits on social media use for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The pledge was in response to News Corp’s “Let Them Be Kids” campaign, which called for access in Australia to be restricted for children over 16.

“Overwhelmingly, it is clear that parents feel that social media puts their children under too much pressure and is not good for their mental health,” HMD’s general manager of Australia and Oceania, Brenden Folitarik, said.

“Aussie parents are also crying out for help. They want schools to be more involved, not just in banning phones during school hours, but helping to educate children on the dangers of social media.

“Interestingly, half the parents we spoke with also shared that they want more guidance and support to help them manage their child’s screen time and also wanted the government involved in this process.”

Clinical psychologist Chris Basten, who mainly treats children and adolescents, said that social media was having an “evident and measurable impact” on both the emotional wellbeing and brain development of young people.

“Kids and teens are dealing with the same issues as ever and the issues that are amplified by social media that I see in practice, most often include low self-worth, body-image issues and personal safety,” Dr Basten said.

“Young kids use the argument that ‘everyone else is chatting and sharing on this platform, so I have to’. We want parents to be able to say soon, well that is against the law.”

Meanwhile, several phone manufacturers, such as HMD, Opel, and Light, are driving a revival of retro mobile phones — dubbed “dumb phones” – to allow for a smoother transition for children into the world of tech.

Priced under $150, these devices are designed to curb children’s screen time and limit their social media use.

“Because every family and situation is different, there cannot be a blanket ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer,” Mr Folitarik said.

“However, it’s clear that parents are struggling to find the balance between giving their children the benefit and freedom of connectivity, while also teaching them the responsibility which comes with it.

“A dumb phone takes away the smarts of a phone and focuses on the original intent of the phone. There’s often only a basic web access on these types of phones, which means it’s not about social media, or web surfing, just calls and texts.”

MUM’S SMARTPHONE REGRET: ‘IT’S A CONSTANT BATTLE’

Jacquie Wolf regrets giving her eldest son Eitan a smartphone when he was just 11.

Struggles with peer pressure, monitoring online activity, and enforcing screen time limits have become a daily ordeal for the mother-of-three.

“Between rules on what apps can be downloaded, to how and when he can use his phone including just screentime in general, it’s a battle you feel like you’re constantly losing,” Mrs Wolf, 45, said.

“We have quite a few ground rules, and we’re lucky that he respects them for the most part, and that includes being off most social media. “It doesn’t stop arguments about screen time, not spending enough time with the family, and so on.”

Jacquie Wolf wants her son Eitan and daughter Tahlia to have a healthy relationship with phones. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Mrs Wolf said she has made efforts to implement strict rules around Eitan, now 12, phone usage.

However, the experience has made her rethink her approach to the timing of giving smartphones to her younger children, Tahlia, 8, and Noah, 6.

“You want to foster your child’s independence and make sure they’re contactable just for their safety,” she said.

“But it really feels like the trade-off for this is a steep one.

“It needs a lot of trust, but ultimately in reality we’re rolling the dice a bit, especially not always knowing what he’s viewing online until after the fact, and how easy it is to see really concerning material these days without too many clicks.”

BEST ‘DUMB’ PHONES

BARBIE PHONE BY HMD

The newest Barbie Phone by HMD is a fun throwback to classic flip phone. It has nostalgic charm and the basics such as messaging, contacts, torch, calendar, radio, and a browser plus fun extras like a Malibu Snake game and a meditation app with a calming chime. You can capture high-res photos and film videos.

Price: $199

HMD Barbie phone 4G. Picture: Supplied

NOKIA 2660 FLIP

The Nokia 2660 Flip is a clever way to go dumb. It’s easy to use, has the iconic flip design and comes with the ever-popular game of Snake. It’s tagged as a ‘retro’ phone on a budget, but that affordability comes with a few drawbacks: a plastic-y feel and a 0.3-megapixel camera that’s best left untouched unless you don’t mind sub-par photos. There’s no Wi-Fi support (likely to conserve battery life) so any online activity will need to rely on a mobile SIM.

Price: $132

Nokia 2660 Flip in pop pink. Picture: The Good Guys

NOKIA 8210

The Nokia 8210 candybar phone harks back to the early days of Nokia phones but rebooted now for a modern twist. It features a spacious 2.8-inch colour display and impressive battery life, lasting up to 27 days on standby if you’re not always on your phone. You can snap photos, though the 0.3-megapixel camera is pretty basic. Enjoy music through the built-in MP3 player or listen to tunes on the wireless FM radio.

Price: $137

Nokia 8210. Picture: Supplied

OPEL MOBILE TOUCHFLIP

The Opel Mobile TouchFlip hits the sweet spot for those who want just enough connectivity while steering clear of endless doom-scrolling. It’s well-built, has a functional touchscreen and a bunch of pre-installed apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Lite. You can even personalise the device by installing and using third-party launchers. The camera isn’t anything to write home about but the battery life is impressive, clocking about 2 days with regular use or up to 27 days on standby.

Price: $89

Originally published as 10,000 parents reveal toll of smartphone addiction and best ‘dumb’ phones around