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Re:What Happens When Your 11-Year-Old Says No to a Smartphone? by nonrandomstring on Sunday November 05, 2023 @04:52PM (#38156023)
One is a start.

Let's go for a billion

Something I wrote in Digital Vegan that a few people said made them sit up, was about Greta Thunberg's climate protests encouraging kids to "boycott school". I always thought that was counterproductive, and... well, basically nobody cares (except the odd headmaster or ambitious parent). So I wrote that instead;

  """ If Greta Thunberg could get a billion young people to switch off
  their phones for a week then we'd see some action. """
I guess what I meant was, if young people wholeheartedly rejected what is "on offer" symbolically by dumping their smartphones... by sacrificing somethg that mattered to them but really represented the interests of "control, surveillance and capitalism", it would send a powerful message and actually be immensely disruptive.

Besides, instead of being harmful to themselves, like skipping classes, it would actually be heathy and good for them.

Having done so, it would be hard to reverse, because how would the proagandists and apologists reach them?

I guess it has to start with one brave, intelligent child who says, "no thanks".

Re:What Happens When Your 11-Year-Old Says No to a Smartphone? by SV_BubbleTime on Sunday November 05, 2023 @05:14PM (#38156188)
“Greta”’s message would never be “stop looking at me”.
Re:What Happens When Your 11-Year-Old Says No to a Smartphone? by nonrandomstring on Sunday November 05, 2023 @06:11PM (#38156713)
Sadly, I think you're right. And so many kids are hooked into "influencers" who, for the same reasons, would never criticise or suggest abandoning the platform that underwrites their existence.
Re:What Happens When Your 11-Year-Old Says No to a Smartphone? by averageRoyalty on Monday November 06, 2023 @12:10PM (#38165336)
Hey Andy, just want to say thanks for writing Digital Vegan. It's been very influential in my decisions for myself and my family, and I appreciate your work!
Re:What Happens When Your 11-Year-Old Says No to a Smartphone? by nonrandomstring on Monday November 06, 2023 @03:02PM (#38168100)
Thank you.