A massive movement took off in late 2025 where entire neighborhoods of parents signed a "Community Pact" to not give their children smartphones until they turn 16. It wasn't just a solo parenting choice; they did it as a group so that no single kid felt like the "odd one out." It has sparked a massive debate between parents who think it’s a beautiful way to save childhood and those who think it’s "digital desertion" that leaves kids unprepared for the real world.

Is a "Smartphone-Free Childhood" a gift of mental health and freedom, or is it actually a disadvantage to keep kids away from the tools of the modern world until they are 16?