Childhood without Smartphones

Many children and young people own a smartphone and often spend hours on Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat. Social contact takes the form of likes and comments, while endless scrolling and gaming quickly become a full-time occupation. Studies link excessive smartphone use to depression, anxiety, and concentration problems. A boarding school in Switzerland takes a strict approach to buck this trend: during the day, all devices remain in locked boxes, older students only get their mobile phones back after class, and younger students only get them back for two hours in the evening. The result: significantly less distraction in class and genuine conversations during breaks. Child and adolescent psychotherapist Nady Mirian explains which rules really work when it comes to media use. The film meets people who are not against new technologies, but who advocate for their conscious use. Is a childhood without a smartphone still possible today – and is it perhaps even better?