Research & support
Voices of supporters
Research shows that when children spend a lot of time on smartphones and social media before the age of 13, it can impair their development.
Prof. Dr. Aida Bikic
Associate Professor, AI, Research Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Southern Denmark). Consulting expert in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and at the EU level.
Our children need genuine attention, not screens. A smartphone-free childhood isn't a sacrifice; it’s a gift. I am grateful to the SfKS association for their commitment to this cause.
Christa Rigozzi
Moderator and entrepreneur, photo by @ko_photography.ch
Just because smartphones are a part of most adults' daily lives, it doesn't mean they should be considered normal for children. Smartphones are not conducive to a developing brain.
Dr. Barbara Studer
Neuroscientist, CEO Hirncoach
Children don't need a constant flood of digital stimuli; they need genuine connection, guidance, and the space to develop their superpower: being human.
Silke Müller
Author of "Wir verlieren unsere Kinder", photo by Sebastian Heun
For most people, the most important emotional skills are developed during the first 16 years of life through complex, real-world interactions with family members, teachers, and friends.
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus
Founder of the Human Change Initiative and entrepreneur
“Social media”—or more accurately, antisocial media—were designed from the outset to be addictive.
Prof. Dr. Peter G. Kirchschläger
Professor of Ethics, University of Lucerne
When I ask in workshops, "Who has ever seen something on the internet so disturbing that they couldn't sleep afterwards?", almost every child who already has their own smartphone raises their hand.
Daniel Wolff
Media educator and author of "Allein mit dem Handy"
Smartphones are marvels of technology that offer many benefits, but they are also powerful, highly addictive tools that can have a devastating impact, especially on children.
Dr. med. Esther Pauchard
Board-certified psychiatrist and psychotherapist (specializing in addiction medicine), author, and speaker
Smartphones are a cruel experiment on children—that is why I support a smartphone-free childhood and the work of the association Smartphone-freie Kindheit Schweiz.
Jürg Walpen
Head of Communications Swiss Cyber
Many parents don't seem to realize that saying NO to their child's first smartphone will save them far more stress in the long run than saying YES will in the short term!
Ben Fisch
Qualified Social Pedagogue and founder of the parent group for media education; www.kidstipp.com, www.kinder-digital-club.com
When it comes to smartphones, we accept that algorithms are designed to capture children's attention, amplify their emotions, and shape their behavior—all without any guardrails. Choosing not to give a child a smartphone isn't taking anything away from them. It is giving them the gift of freedom, health, and imagination.
Manuel C. Widmer
Member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern, Teacher, DJ
Responsible use of digital media only comes about through educating parents, setting clear everyday rules, and communicating with children on an equal footing. I think it’s fantastic that the association is committed to this cause.
Adi Allenbach
Senior Security Consultant at isolutions and father
A childhood without a smartphone fosters healthy development and strong language skills, while preventing issues like poor concentration, declining academic performance, and exposure to traumatic content.
Sandra Beriger
Developmental Psychologist (lic. phil. I), Special Needs Educator
«Wer in einem Workshop erlebt hat, was Zehn- und Elfjährige auf Smartphones, in Apps und mit KI bereits sehen und erfahren, diskutiert nicht mehr darüber, ob wir sie schützen müssen. Eltern brauchen Orientierung, Kinder brauchen zusätzlich klare Regeln und Schutzräume.»
Tobias Dillinger
Gründer von Medienzeit, Elternblog für digitale Aufklärung
Smartphones are simply too harmful. We need flip phones for all children and all schools, and we need them now. I support all the parent movements spreading across the globe.
Tristan Harris
Co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, tech ethicist
Parents, and mothers in particular, have stood up (...) and so this was an impressive example of what we can achieve together.
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist, professor of psychology, and author of Generation Angst
Voices of parents
Voices of children
Q&A
Our Frequently Asked Questions are designed to help raise awareness about this topic among parents, teachers, schools, policymakers, youth organizations, and clubs.
Can children self-regulate when using a smartphone? If so, at what age?
No, because developing and maturing brains are more vulnerable—essentially "all gas and no brake." For instance, the prefrontal cortex in the male brain doesn't fully develop until age 25, and about two years earlier in females. Waiting until 25 for a smartphone is obviously unrealistic. However, we want to help our children learn how to use these devices healthily while their internal "brakes" are still under construction.
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From computers to AI: A history in generations