Jonathan Haidt proposed 14 as the age for a social norm against smartphone use for children.
Posted by On with Kara Swisher, Checked
- Sources
- 6 support3 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
On with Kara SwisherAug 10, 2026
Multiple sources report that Jonathan Haidt's proposed social norm is no smartphones before age 14, matching the claim as extracted from the post. Some sources describe the norm as 'high school' (about 14), and the claim's wording is a faithful paraphrase of the passage.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Oh, Jonathan Hight. John Anthony, of course, yeah. Um, and I think where he was going was, let's try and establish a social norm, which is not regulation, it's not making it illegal, but if we can establish a social norm that helps parents enforce a rule. I think his age was 14, actually, for the smartphone. Yeah, but he's he's calling for regulation. I mean, there's a mountain of evidence that say social media companies knew their products were harmful to kids and time after time chose engagement over safety in the design. …
On with Kara Swisher · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. CNBC (2025) reports Haidt's first of four 'simple norms' is no smartphones before age 14, and quotes him on delaying smartphones.[1]
Supports. WEF (2025) reports Haidt proposed four new norms, the first being not giving children a smartphone until at least age 14.[2]
Supports. Fortune (2024) reports Haidt urges giving only basic phones before ninth grade (roughly age 14), and ABC Australia (2024) quotes him saying the norm should be no smartphone before 14.[3][4]
Supports. Washington Examiner (2026) and a 2024 school blog likewise report Haidt advocating smartphone use not begin until at least age 14 (or 12 in the blog's reading).[5][6]
Context. Some sources describe the same norm as 'no smartphones before high school' (about age 14-15), and Haidt framed these as norms for parents to enforce collectively rather than legal regulation, consistent with the post's description of a social norm.[7][8][9]
Sources
9 sources: 9 not rated
- 1The key to a smartphone free childhood is enforcing 4 'simple' rules, says NYU professorcnbc.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 2Jonathan Haidt: How to make the 'anxious generation' ...weforum.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 34 smartphone rules parents should follow, according to a ...fortune.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Smartphones and social media 'toxic' for children under 14 ...abc.net.au · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Childhood with internet and smartphoneswashingtonexaminer.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6Anxious Generation Part Three: What to do about portable devicesnewington.nsw.edu.au · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7Jonathan Haidt on Adjusting to Smartphones and Social ...conversationswithtyler.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 8Kids having smartphones is likely fine and may even be beneficialtampabay.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 9Rescuing our children from the clutches of smartphonesbusinessday.co.za · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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