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How a British couple sparked a global movement for a smartphone-free childhood

Dec 2025 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 CBS News

This CBS News article and accompanying video segment reports on Daisy Greenwell and her husband and Smartphone Free Childhood co-founder Joe Ryrie for a U.S. audience, describing how their daughter's request for a smartphone at age eight led to an Instagram post that Greenwell says drew an overwhelming response and grew into a campaign now linked to activity in 39 countries. It quotes Ryrie describing the effort as "not an anti-tech movement, it's a pro-childhood movement," and Greenwell arguing that "delaying the smartphone is free, it's simple, and gives your child the best chance to thrive." The segment situates the UK-founded campaign alongside Australia's under-16 social media restrictions and notes rising U.S. sales of basic "brick phones" as a related parental response. It does not name Clare Fernyhough directly.

SFC-linked activity reported in 39 countries

The segment reports the campaign's model has been picked up by parent groups in 39 countries as of this report.

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CBS News. "How a British couple sparked a global movement for a smartphone-free childhood." CBS News, updated 10 Dec. 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/smartphone-free-childhood-australia-social-media-ban

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