SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Kids’ and their use of smartphones has been the topic of many conversations around the world. There are many valid concerns about smartphone use among youth, leading to a lack of learned social skills along with concerns about mental health, sleep, and cyberbullying. There has been much debate on cellphone regulation in schools and digital wellness.
Phones were unleashed on an unsuspecting generation with unforeseen consequences.
The American Association of Pediatrics released a study in December 2025 that showed smartphone ownership was associated with depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep in early adolescence. The study showed that younger acquisition is correlated to worse outcomes, prompting expert advice to delay device introduction while balancing safety and social benefits. These findings suggest implementing family rules, considering contracts, setting usage boundaries (like no phones in bedrooms), and discussing responsible use to mitigate potential harms, though phones offer benefits like communication and independence.
It is tough for many parents who have chosen to delay their children having access to smartphones. In South Lake Tahoe, parents say their children are bullied at school for not having a smartphone, which has shown up in school as early as 2nd grade.
South Lake Tahoe parents BJ and Emily Guess have spoken to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) about smartphone use in local schools. Emily said they are not trying to make parents feel guilty about their choices, but there is a need to educate parents on what can happen when phones are introduced to a child too early. She also said we have to allow our children to gain an academic education and learn how to connect with their peers. Many parts of childhood may be awkward, but it’s those moments where children learn about life. Kids who are attached to phones miss out on many learning aspects of childhood – how to interact and handle social moments.
“They become zombies with a phone,” said Emily.
The Guesses said kids who are not given a phone are isolated, left off of group threads, not invited to things, including school meetings. They’d like to see LTUSD staff understand that not all students have smartphones.
A group of South Lake Tahoe residents has formed “Focus,” a group of professionals and parents alike who meet and advocate for child phone safety.
They want to combat mental health issues by giving kids a break at school.
While parents worry about their children being left out or falling behind peers, many now realize the significant downsides, with a growing percentage wishing they’d waited longer before giving kids smartphones.
Bell to Bell Ban at School
Emily said they aren’t asking for a complete ban on smartphones, but to not be allowed from the first bell to the last bell at school. She said they aren’t trying to parent, but at least respect the “Bell-to-Bell” approach for no phones. She said if parents don’t give their children smartphones, they are still exposed to them at school by the kids who do have them. She said kids can’t unsee what they’ve seen on phones.
The Guesses are suggesting the District use Yonder bags, a pouch for phones. Every student who has a device has to have a Yonder pouch, which allows respect for other families’ choices, but students can retrieve texts and messages after school. If a Yonder bag is locked by “Bell to Bell,” there are no distractions with kids having access to cameras and the internet. Provides kids the opportunity to socialize and have fun without those extra worries.
Some school districts have turned to the app, Opal. It is “student-driven, admin-controlled, and parent-supported.” The creators feel “Bell to Bell” bans don’t work, but “Bell to Bed” does. When the app is installed, all other apps are active before school starts, but once the bell rings, Opal deactivates the apps banned at school. Then parents can reduce screentime during meals and family time.
For parents who still want their kids to have a phone, suggestions include “dumb phones” for kids that offer basic calling/texting without internet or apps, ideal for safety and focus. Some “dumb phones” look like a fancier smartphone but are restricted. There are also flip phones and the pinwheel phone that is parent-controlled.
The Anxious Generation
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt argues that the epidemic of youth anxiety, depression, and suicide since the 2010s stems from the “phone-based childhood,” replacing the healthier “play-based childhood” due to smartphones, social media, and overprotective parenting, which hinder social, emotional, and neurological development, requiring a societal shift back to real-world experiences and reduced screen time to foster resilience and well-being.
This book has been eyeopening for many parents.
Identified in Haidt’s book:
- The Problem: A sharp rise in adolescent mental health issues (anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide) began in the early 2010s, coinciding with the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media.
- The Cause: The shift from a childhood centered on unsupervised play and real-world interaction to one dominated by phones and screens has “rewired” child development, leading to social deprivation, sleep loss, addiction, and stunted emotional growth.
- The Culprit: Haidt points to the “great rewiring” of childhood, driven by parents’ well-intentioned but overprotective tendencies (helicopter parenting) and the powerful, addictive nature of smartphones
From the book:
Key Mechanisms of Harm:
- Sleep Deprivation: Late-night phone use disrupts sleep.
- Attention Fragmentation: Constant digital switching reduces focus.
- Social Comparison & Contagion: Social media fuels unrealistic standards and negative behavioral spread.
- Loneliness: Online interactions often replace deeper, in-person connections.
- Reduced Resilience: Lack of real-world challenges prevents kids from learning to cope with failure.
Proposed Solutions:
- Ban Phones in Schools: A major step to create phone-free learning environments.
- Restore Play-Based Childhood: Encourage offline exploration, risk-taking, and unstructured time.
- Parental Shift: Move away from hyper-protection to allow children the necessary struggles and independence.
- Policy Changes: Support legislation to limit social media access for minors.
See another of the videos on his book HERE.
Wait Until 8th
There is a national non-profit called Wait Until 8th that is empowering parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. Many South Lake Tahoe parents have already signed the pledge, and while it is gaining in popularity and offers help and sources, it isn’t the end-all solution.
They want to help parents protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and dangers of a smartphone by signing a pledge at schools. By signing the online pledge, you promise not to give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade as long as at least 10 families total from your child’s grade and school pledge. Once 10 families have pledged to delay the smartphone, you will be notified that the pledge is active. You will receive a list of families who are delaying from your child’s grade and emails for the parents. It is helpful to be connected with other families waiting in your child’s grade. Check out the list of schools with active pledges here
“Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age at which children get their first smartphone. You can change this” states the group’s website.
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. Let’s protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and dangers of a smartphone. Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age.
Ten years old is the average age at which children get their first smartphone, and parents can change this.
Community Conversation
The local highlight on this issue has brought many parents and other concerned individuals together to try to fix the issue of smartphones in the hands of kids too young to have access to the world in their hands.
On Tuesday, January 20, LTUSD is holding a Community Conversation on the topic of smartphones and kids. It starts at 6:00 p.m. in the South Tahoe Middle School MPR at 2940 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Parking is available at Timberwolf Plaza on the blacktop.
California Law
Starting July 1, 2026, all California public schools must implement policies to restrict or ban student cell phone use during the school day under Governor Newsom’s Phone-Free School Act (AB 3216), aiming to improve focus, mental health, and reduce cyberbullying, with exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, and certain educational uses. Districts must establish and update these policies, with some already adopting similar rules, using solutions like locked pouches for storage. Policies must be in place by July 1, 2026, with full implementation for the 2026-2027 school year.