A Plea

Dear Smartphone Hi-tech People

I’m writing to you with a request - not because I am a total Luddite, a fantasist or some dreamy backward looking romantic.  I write because I think I have an idea that would do things for you; make money and reassure you that you are trying to do the right thing.

For the last ten years most of us have had a seemingly convenient and life-changing mini computer on our person at all times and it may - on balance - have produced more good than bad.  It’s wonderful; I can research things on a whim, check the calculator, the Thesaurus, ring people, write emails, buy stuff, move money around and distract myself with acres and acres of meaningless drivel on social media sites.  I have listened to music, downloaded backing tracks for my pupils, used the metronome, showed them pictures of exotic instruments, looked at scores, checked spellings and had group chats with all my brothers and sisters.  It has made me believe I am safer and even allowed me to persuade myself that I can self-diagnose ailments.

But for our kids, it isn’t safer.  Already struggling with the usual complications of growing up, they have had to manage a grown-up device that has every bit of information they could possibly desire at their fingertips - and they can’t handle it.  It is too much for them - too often and too quickly.  They are permanently overstimulated, yet read less, they are fatter and less physically active.  They can access sexual violence, violence of any kind, become victims of predators, be bullied or get drawn into bullying themselves.  They are depressed and anxious, bulimic, anorexic, body dysmorphic and self-loathing.  They spend too much time indoors, are losing social skills and the ability to concentrate.  They are unable to sleep but are exhausted, bored but have permanent entertainment on a whim.  In short, they do not have the life skills to cope with this device.  Please don’t say that the adults around them should have more control; our kids might be young and naive but they are clever.  They can quickly work out how to get round any adult restrictions and do not have the ‘device blindness’ that many of the older generation do.  I have a better idea than that - and its simplicity should be attractive to you.

The concept is this; make phones specifically for under sixteens.  I accept that the genie is out of the bottle and children above the age of about eleven now expect a device on which they can contact and be contacted.  Let’s face it; parents want this also.  But these devices don’t have to have all the bells and whistles attached.  They can be used for phone calls and texting - that’s all.  You can make them look cool.  Cover them in rainbows or cars or whatever your market researchers think will work.  You’re the experts and  presumably you have some pretty hot designers, so you can work it out.  You could use recycled materials to make them, you could charge them with recycled batteries, powered by solar power.  You could make them in whatever shape you like and you could make them attractive - and harmless.  I know you’re going to say that you can’t legislate the age at which people have devices; governments have to do this.  But you also know that the market is at least as powerful as governments and that you can make it very easy for them by producing something that customers want.

It is your customers after all who presumably you want to keep sweet - and frightening one generation and permanently damaging another isn’t going to keep you in profit forever.  As a customer, I have to tell you that this is too late for my kids.  I’m lucky - they have so far come out of this relatively unscathed and I count my blessings every day for that.  But I have seen countless children lose their health and well-being because of these devices - and the power is in your hands to change it.  Think about it; you have the potential to turn this around before it’s too late - and you may even make money in the process.  It looks like a win win…

Yours faithfully

A normal middle-aged mother with limited technology skills

Uplifting music of the day: ‘Just The Two Of Us’ by Bill Withers.  I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but this is such a happy tune.  A great example of some of the mature, good quality pop to come out of the late 1970s.  Listen to it and feel better.

Contemplative music of the day: ‘Prelude No.3 in A Minor’ by Heito Villa-Lobos.  I don’t usually fuss about which version of pieces you listen to, but this one performed by the glorious guitarist Sean Shibe from his album ‘Profesion’ is truly inspiring.  I’m proud to say I gave this album five stars in a review and it has since gone on to win an award from BBC Music Magazine.  Check out the review if you want to, but most importantly - listen to it.

Book: ‘Manifesto’ by Dale Vince.  This Green Energy tycoon has written a book about his life and his vision for a greener, cleaner future.  It’s not perfect prose, but has ideas that are literally game changing for us as individuals and as a country.  Read it and be inspired.