Reviving Communication: Children Embrace Landlines Over Smartphones
In the cozy confines of her kitchen in South Portland, eight-year-old Piper Morse picks up a traditional phone to connect with a friend.
“Hi Carly. What are you up to?” Piper inquires.
Their conversation entails an array of topics: the latest soccer scores, an imminent bake sale, and the latest developments in their social circle.
“I’ll see you at the party,” Piper concludes.
Although this exchange may seem ordinary for a third grader, the device she’s using is far from the norm. Piper holds a white plastic handset at her ear, tethered to a base via a lengthy spiral cord—a genuine landline phone.
“I enjoy it because you don’t have to stare at a screen, and there are buttons,” Piper explains. Piper Morse speaks on the phone.
In stark contrast to Piper’s experience, nearly 25% of children in the U.S. possess a cell phone by the age of eight, with most being smartphones replete with apps and internet access.
For countless parents, gifting a smartphone to their child marks a nuanced milestone—fraught with dilemmas. Yet, some are navigating these challenges by opting for a seemingly antiquated solution: landlines.
Piper’s sister, ten-year-old Molly, shares her appreciation for the landline, expressing confusion over classmates who withdraw into their smartphones during bus rides, ignoring those seated next to them.
“It’s strange how they just sit there with their phones, even when their friends are right beside them,” says Molly. “They should just put their phones down and converse.”
Their mother, Caron Morse, reflects on her decision to obtain a landline, deeming it “the most astute parenting decision I’ve made.”
With a background as a social worker in an elementary school, Morse is acutely aware of the potential hazards smartphones pose, such as exposure to inappropriate material, cyberbullying, and their tendency to monopolize attention.
“There’s undeniably a form of cell phone addiction among children today,” Morse asserts.
In contemplating how to mitigate the smartphone dilemma for her daughters, she recalled her own childhood experiences with a landline and wondered if her children would appreciate the novelty.
However, she realized that for this initiative to flourish, she would need to galvanize her community and encourage neighbors and friends to join her in this endeavor.
“Come on, get a landline with us,” Morse urged. “It’s uncomplicated and cost-effective.”
Fast forward a year, and Morse reports that approximately two dozen families in her neighborhood have adopted landlines or internet phones that mimic traditional landline functionality.
The unexpected benefits have been heartening. She observes her daughters engaging in richer conversations, free from the distractions that accompanied their previous smartphone usage.
“When they used my cell phone, they would become absorbed, often modifying their voices with filters, and it didn’t seem like true communication was happening,” Morse recalls.
Inspired by their positive experiences, Morse and fellow parents launched a Landline Kids website to promote this revival.
“Hello?” Eleven-year-old Ashton Ladd from Scarborough chimes in as he dials his friend Parker. Ashton Ladd reaches out to a friend.
“Would you like to go fishing?” Ashton queries, the landline has been his communication tool since last spring.
“After school, we felt quite isolated from our peers, but this has changed the dynamics,” he adds.
His mother, Jen Ladd, expressed a desire to maintain contact with Ashton and his nine-year-old sister Claire as they navigate their independence. The landline aligns with her intention for them to foster connections with family and friends, thus shifting focus away from solitary smartphone use.
“It’s preferable to them sitting alone with their phones, engaging in activities we might not approve of,” Ladd comments.
David Bickham, research director at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, acknowledges the duality of smartphones—devices that grant access to a cornucopia of information, both beneficial and detrimental.
While smartphones can enhance connectivity, they may precipitate feelings of isolation and mental health challenges. Bickham emphasizes the importance of deliberate and mindful usage.
“The crux of the matter lies in establishing control over the device rather than it controlling you,” he remarks.
Bickham advocates for parental measures that promote healthy usage, such as disabling notifications, seeking approval for app downloads, and elucidating the rationale behind these controls.
While there is no definitive age for introducing a smartphone, he suggests delaying this milestone beyond the common nine or ten-year mark as beneficial.
In the interim, he asserts, a landline remains a viable alternative.
Jen Ladd observes unexpected developmental benefits emerging from the landline experience.
“It’s enjoyable,” she shares. “It empowers them to reach out and initiate plans, or simply engage in light-hearted banter. My daughter often calls her friends just to share jokes.”
Seated comfortably, Claire Ladd dials her friend Ellie, ready to exchange her latest joke.
“Why is the toilet paper afraid to cross the road?” Claire poses.
“Why?” Ellie responds, intrigued.
“Because it’s scared of getting stuck in the cracks,” Claire concludes, igniting a fit of laughter.
For these families, the solution to postponing smartphone ownership is simply: get a landline.
Source link: Wbur.org.
