From Royals to Researchers: Why Screen-Free Tech Is Becoming More Mainstream

This week, The Princess of Wales sparked a national debate about how much time adults and children spend staring at screens.

In an essay co-written by Harvard professor Robert Waldinger, titled ‘The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World’, and reported in The BBC, she warned about how the rise of smartphones are fuelling “an epidemic of disconnection.”

“While new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection,” she wrote. “”While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite…We’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us.”

This message, which was published by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood echoes earlier sentiment expressed by the Prince and Princess of Wales about the harmful nature of social media.

The Prince of Wales also recently revealed that his own children, George, Charlotte and Louis, do not yet have mobile phones.

But this sentiment isn’t just one shared by the royal couple, across the world, many are worried about the effects that screentime is having on younger generations.

 

Families Worry About The Rise In Screentime

 

But the Princess’s thoughts are not unique. In fact, Internet Matters’ 2024 Children’s Digital Wellbeing Index revealed that 63% of parents believe that time online negatively impacts their child’s health.

Even more scary, is the stat that nearly a third of families admit they now spend more time on their own devices than they do together, up from 2022.

This trend raises big questions about how families should be balancing screen time, especially at home.

 

 

What Does The Science Say?

 

In a story for the BBC, technology editor Zoe Kleinman explored the topic a little further.

Within the piece, she cited research from Pete Etchells from Bath Spa University, who revealed that studies around screen time don’t actually show it as conclusively negative. He says, “Concrete scientific evidence to back up stories about the terrible outcomes of screen time simply isn’t there.”

What he does say, is that loneliness can definitely have a negative impact on young people. It was this, he concluded, that was driving their mental health struggles, not the screen time itself.

 

Screens and Toddlers

 

Whilst the science is clearly divided on how bad screen time actually is for young people, when it comes to early years, the results are a bit more telling.

Research cited by Fortune Well noted that 68% of parents with children under 6 say their kids need a ‘detox’ from technology.

The American Academy of Paediatrics is also clear on its position, recommending that screen time should be almost non-existent for children under 2 and limited to an hour for those aged 2-5.

 

The Rise of Screenless Tech

 

As the debate around screentime grows, the market for technologies that entertain children without using screens is growing. Already, a number of companies are dominating the space.

Here are some…

 

Yoto

 

 

Yoto helps children cut down on screen time while still giving them educational content.

Their Yoto Player is a physical screen-less device that tells stories through audio. Through physical smartcards, children can hear about new topics and stories, providing them with a healthy alternative to screen-based entertainment.

 

Tonies

 

 

Tonies has taken over the screen-free world with their audio player designed with small figurines that tell different stories.

With partnerships across big names like Disney and Pixar, tonies is helping empower more kids through independent listening, touch and play.

 

Voxblock

 

 

Voxblock is a screen-free audio player for children that looks like a small phone, but is powered using physical cards.

With over 300 audiobooks in their collection, Voxblock is helping children listen to their favourite stories, without looking at a screen.

 

Amazon Echo

 

 

Amazon’s range of screen-less speakers allow children to engage with Alexa, their AI – meaning they can ask questions and engage online, without increasing screen time.

The devices also link with audible, allowing children to have thousands of stories read to them, without needing to look at a screen.