Bill Gates Calls โคfor โขDelaying Smartphones for Children, Advocates Return to โ”Play-Based Childhoods”
SEATTLE, WAโ – Bill Gates is โฃurging a โฃglobal โshift in how children interact with technology, โฃadvocating for delayed access to smartphones and a renewed focus on conventional play. The Microsoft co-founderS concerns stem from observations about the impact of โฃubiquitous screen time on the development of focusโ and deep thinking – skills he credits as crucial to his โฃown success.
Gates, reflecting on his own childhood, described a “play-based childhood” as foundational toโฃ his ability to โconcentrate intensely andโ pursueโ ideas. He contrasts this with theโข currentโ reality whereโ a “childhood based on the telephone is much more common,” according to โฃa recentโ Cronista report detailing insights from Jonathan Haidt’s book on the effects of social media and โsmartphones โฃon young people.
“Without โฃthe ability to concentrate intensely โฃand follow an idea wherever it goes, the world could miss out on the gains that โcome from engaging your mind with something and stay there,” Gatesโข warned.
The philanthropist proposes a multi-pronged โขapproach to โaddress theโ issue. He advocates delaying smartphone access until children reach maturity โand implementing stricter age verification on social media platformsโ – a โฃpractice he employed with his own children. Crucially, Gates emphasizes the need to “rebuild the โinfrastructure of โขchildhood,” creating appealing alternativesโ to screen time, such as revitalized playgrounds and โขaccessible play areas.
Gates believes a successful solution requiresโ coordinated โeffort. “Achieving this will not come from โindividual families making โbetter decisions, it requires coordination between parents, schools, technology companies and policy makers,” โคhe โฃstated.
The call to action underscoresโ a growing global conversation about the potential downsides of early smartphone adoption and the importance of fostering healthy childhood development in the โdigital age.
