Catherine Martinko urges Red Clay parents to delay smartphones and limit social media to curb youth anxiety

Catherine Martinko, author of Childhood Unplugged, told a Red Clay Consolidated School District webinar audience that children’s recreational screen use has surged and urged parents and schools to take immediate action.

Martinko, introduced by Dr. Dorrell Green, said national surveys show tweens average about 5½ hours a day of entertainment screen time and teenagers average about 8 hours 40 minutes, of which roughly five hours are social media use. "This means that kids are spending more time scrolling on their phones than they are spending in school," she said.

Why it matters: Martinko framed excessive recreational screen time as linked to poorer sleep, reduced motor skills, lower empathy, and attention problems she summarized as a ‘‘great rewiring of childhood.’’ She cited Common Sense Media survey data and other studies, including MRI research of young children, to show possible neurologic and developmental effects.

Practical guidance: Martinko offered six specific recommendations for families and schools: 1) give parents permission to say no; 2) delay smartphones until about age 16; 3) block social media access before 16; 4) create phone-free zones (for example, no phones in bedrooms or at meals); 5) actively build children’s real-world freedom and play opportunities; and 6) adopt strict school-day phone policies, ideally a bell-to-bell ban. "Delay smartphone until 16," she said, "and when you do give one, set a contract and clear rules."

She emphasized that not all screen time is equal: passive, shared viewing on a large screen differs neurologically from short, fragmented videos consumed alone on handheld devices. Martinko recommended household practices such as tech fasts (1 hour a day, 1 day a week, 1 week a year), family workstations for homework, and shared 'phone hotels' when friends visit.

Context and evidence: Martinko repeatedly noted that research on harms and reversibility is growing. She referenced work by Jonathan Haidt, Jean Twenge, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and MRI studies from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital when explaining developmental concerns and age-sensitivity windows.

Audience and next steps: After the presentation, district leaders and Martinko discussed how the guidance intersects with local practice and policymaking. Martinko said short-term improvements in well-being have been observed when social-media access is reduced, and she encouraged families and schools to pilot the recommended changes.

The district said it will make the recorded presentation available and provide follow-up FAQs for families through the public information and technology offices.