The Tides Are Turning: Reflections on the Phone-Free School Movement in the UK
I’m strolling through Oxford, weaving through the honey-hued stone streets, when I notice two young men seated across from one another at a pub—let’s call it The Eagle & Child for charm’s sake. No phones. Just pints and conversation. They’re deep in discussion about politics, video games, and 90s pop culture, laughing with the ease of people who feel seen.
As a mother of three and a digital wellness advocate, I feel it—that flutter of hope.
The tides are turning.
Over the past year, a quiet revolution has been building in schools across the globe: New Zealand, The United Kingdom, Canada, The United States.
Phone-free policies are moving from fringe to foundation. And the timing could not be more urgent.
A Generation in Crisis
Dr. Jean Twenge recently reported that more than 50% of teens now say they don’t enjoy life. A shocking decline from just a decade ago. This isn’t simply a shift in mood. It’s a loss of joy, a collapse of the vitality that should define adolescence.
The new Global Flourishing Study, conducted by researchers at Harvard and Baylor, echoes this reality. Based on surveys from over 200,000 people in 20+ countries, the study found young adults (ages 18–29) are struggling across every domain:
Happiness
Mental and physical health
Meaning and purpose
Relationships
Financial security
Self-worth
“It’s a pretty stark picture,” said Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, the study’s lead author. His central question cuts deep:
“Are we sufficiently investing in the well-being of youth?”
His hunch? The screen is the thief. Not because of what it is, but because of what it replaces.
“They’re not bowling alone,” he quips, referencing Robert Putnam’s iconic warning on social disconnection.
“They’re not bowling at all.”
What We Can Do (and It’s All Free)
We don’t have to wait for government policy or new tech regulation to act. There are simple, timeless ways to rebuild social capital and reweave the fabric of flourishing—for our children, and for ourselves.
Three solutions anyone can implement:
Become a Scout / Scouter
Scouting creates shared ritual and meaningful mentorship across generations. It's a space where presence is practiced and character is cultivated.
Establish One Weekly and One Monthly Standing Commitment
Wednesday board games. First Friday potlucks. Routine is the scaffolding of connection. Make one small commitment that doesn't shift based on productivity, performance, or urgency.
Start an Annual Street Party
Community doesn’t just happen, it’s built. Throw a block party, even if it’s just chalk and cookies. Make it your yearly tradition. Kids (and adults) need to know who lives behind the doors on their street.
Back to Oxford
Let’s return to my young friends in the pub — let’s call them Will and Tom. Picture them there every Wednesday night, no agenda, no social ladder to climb, just friends around a table. Talking. Laughing. Being.
This is what flourishing looks like.
The tides are turning. Let’s be the ones to keep them rising.
