Canadian parents are pledging to delay getting their kids smartphones. Here's why

In communities across Canada, parents are banding together to create cell phone-free cohorts of kids.

Inspired by Wait Until 8th in the United States, Unplugged Canada is asking parents to make a pledge to delay giving their kids smartphones until age 14. The group officially launched last weekend and has received 500 pledges so far.

Kirsten Sweet, a parent of two in St. Albert, Alta., said her local chapter started after a conversation in a dance studio's waiting room for parents. 

As their kids were moving through the first few years of elementary school, Sweet and five other moms shared a sense of worry about exposure to devices.

"The topic just kept coming up over and over again in different ways. And so we decided to learn a little bit more about it," Sweet told CBC's Edmonton AM.

They found documentaries like Childhood 2.0 and books like The Anxious Generation, which Sweet said opened her eyes to growing mental health issues in youth, addiction to social media, and attention fragmentation.

And then there's the darker side of screen-use — increased rates of sextortion and cyberbullying.

"And then also just the opportunity cost," Sweet said. 

"Kids are spending five hours a day on social media, some of them. So if they're doing that, then what are they not doing? They're not sleeping, they're not out in nature, they're not getting physical activity or social interaction."

The St. Albert group wanted to educate others and create community.

When they encountered Jenny Perez, a Vancouver parent who was trying to do the same thing on a national scale with Unplugged Canada, they decided to start a local chapter.

A few years ago, when Perez was concerned about her kindergarten-age daughter being given an iPad in school, she felt there must be other parents out there who shared her concerns, but couldn't find them.

Perez said this fall, more parents are reassessing devices — especially with multiple provincial school cellphone bans coming into effect. She hopes Unplugged Canada can build on that momentum.

"I felt so alone for years in this battle ... It was great to find passionate parents — knowing that you are not alone makes a difference," Perez said.