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Back To School, Not Back To Screens: "Sharenting" & Innovation



September issue of Wellness Education Magazine, cover story by Tara Stewart
September issue of Wellness Education Magazine, cover story by Tara Stewart

By NOBLE technology's Tara Stewart, as featured in the September Edition of Wellness Education Magazine


As backpacks are dusted off and school routines resume, there’s one thing many parents and educators are dreading: the return of the smartphone struggle. From elementary school playgrounds to high school hallways, screens have become ever-present companions for our children. But what’s meant to be a tool for connection has, for many, become a source of distraction, anxiety, and even addiction.


Tackling the screentime struggle

Across every age group, concerns are mounting. Young children are exposed to content they aren’t developmentally ready to process. Tweens and teens face growing pressure from social media, cyberbullying, and the addictive loops built into popular apps. Even in schools with "no phone" policies, devices are finding their way into lockers, desks, and bathroom stalls. The result? Decreased focus, fragmented attention spans, disrupted sleep, and rising mental health challenges.

And for many parents, the tension is constant, trying to set limits, enforce boundaries, and navigate the guilt that often comes with saying “no” to what feels like a cultural norm.


“Sharenting” as a community & family solution

One promising grassroots approach? “Sharenting” - not in the traditional sense of posting about your kids online, but reframed as shared parenting in the digital space.

Many families are finding relief by working together. Creating informal parent groups, especially within friend circles, school communities, or sports teams, allows for the development of shared expectations around smartphone use. When parents align on guidelines (such as not texting during school, collecting phones at bedtime, or holding off on social media until a certain age), it removes the pressure from any one household and fosters a healthier, more unified culture.

Coaches and group leaders can be powerful allies here. By agreeing to phone-free boundaries during games, practices, or rehearsals, adults reinforce the idea that presence and participation matter more than notifications.


Digital boundaries start at home

One of the most overlooked strategies is also one of the most effective: collecting phones at night. Blue light and late-night scrolling can severely disrupt sleep cycles, especially in developing brains. Creating a family docking station, perhaps in the kitchen or hallway, helps set a shared ritual for unplugging.

Similarly, turning in phones during homework or focused study time reinforces the value of single-tasking at a time with constant distraction. For many families, it’s not about removing tech altogether, but about building intentional boundaries that foster healthier habits.


Community movements gaining momentum

Organizations like Unplugged Canada are leading the national conversation on healthy tech habits for kids. Their “Delay Smartphones Until 14” pledge is gaining traction in schools and communities across the country, offering parents and educators a powerful framework to resist the growing pressure to introduce smartphones too early.

The pledge becomes active when five or more families from the same grade and school commit to delaying smartphone use, transforming individual hesitation into collective action. It’s a grassroots model of modern-day “sharenting,” where parents support one another in setting boundaries and creating a healthier digital culture for their children.

Meanwhile, NOBLE technology’s Alliance for Digital Wellness & Tech for Good is bringing together wellness leaders, educators, and advocates to champion responsible technology use. Through practical tools, connected communities, and forward-thinking policy efforts, the Alliance is working to shape a healthier digital future for the next generation.

Join the Alliance to stay informed on Canada’s evolving digital policy landscape, collaborate on meaningful initiatives, and help ensure technology remains a force for good.


Private market solutioning

For parents feeling overwhelmed or for children who are already struggling with screen addiction or digital vulnerability, tech solutions are also emerging.

BE.connect, developed by Calgary-based NOBLE technology, is a de-featured smartphone built with children and vulnerable users in mind. Designed to provide connection without the addictive loops of traditional devices, BE.connect includes core functions like calling, texting, maps, and calendar, but leaves out social media, app stores, and internet access. It’s a powerful option for families looking to keep their children safe, connected, and mentally well, without resorting to a full smartphone lockdown.


Looking to educate yourself and others? Start here…

If you're a parent, educator, or wellness leader trying to make sense of the growing mental health crisis linked to smartphones and social media, you’re not alone, and there are powerful resources to help.

One of the most essential reads is The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, a bestselling book that dives deep into the impact of smartphones on youth development. Haidt unpacks the science, the societal shifts, and the urgent need to rethink when and how kids engage with digital devices. Beyond his book, his website is also full of very practical (and downloadable) resources for parents and educators.

For ongoing learning and tools, visit Center for Humane Technology, a leading voice on building a healthier digital future. Founded by Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist who helped create the “infinite scroll,” the Center is a goldmine of educational materials, timely

resources, and critical analysis on how tech is shaping our lives, for better or worse. It’s a go-to hub for those ready to have meaningful conversations and take action toward a more responsible tech landscape.


A Final Thought: If they’re saying no, you can too

As we navigate the challenges of raising kids in today’s tech-saturated world, it’s worth remembering this: the very people who helped build today’s digital landscape are the same ones putting up guardrails for their own families.

· Steve Jobs didn’t let his kids use the iPad.

· Bill Gates banned smartphones until his children were 14.

· Tim Cook said he wouldn’t allow his nephew on social media.

These aren’t outliers, they’re insiders. And their caution sends a powerful message: setting limits isn’t restrictive, it’s responsible.

But we don’t have to do it alone. Reframing “sharenting” as shared digital parenting through community pledges, aligned boundaries, and collective action creates a powerful support system for families. When we work together, we reduce the stigma of being “the strict parent,” and instead, become part of a movement that prioritizes our kids’ mental health, connection, and well-being.

This school year let’s not just send our kids back to class. Let’s return to something even more powerful: a community grounded in awareness and intention, where healthy tech habits are shared, supported, and celebrated.


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