Do you have a landline?

In many homes, landlines have gone extinct. And in those that still have them, they exist only to field telemarketers and robo calls. But in the last few months, an interesting thing has been happening – landlines are making a comeback - for kids!

Families are forming “phone groups” where home phone numbers are exchanged so that kids can call to chat or plan play dates. A recent article in The Atlantic (Click HERE to read – Subscription may be required) outlines one family's phone group experiment and how the community has found it to be a positive experience for parents and children alike.

To anyone over the age of 40, this experience will feel very familiar, as this was how we communicated with our friends before texting. That feeling of nervously calling a friend’s house and having to ask their parents “Is Jenny there?” was a right of passage. Since landlines are barely used in many homes today, parents may need to explicitly create an environment for kids to use the home phone and grant permission for children to connect with friends this way.

If you are considering creating a phone group or have already done so, we would love to hear from you! Drop us a note at newcanaanunplugged@gmail.com and let us know about your experience. We'd love to feature any tips or suggestions from those who have tried something like this so that we can all learn!

BOOK HIGHLIGHT

Unplug by Richard Simon, 224 pages

New Canaan Unplugged did not write this book, but we wish we had! Published on June 17, 2025, this book helps people turn off their phone and turn on their life with step-by-step instructions and success stories from dozens of people who've set healthy boundaries with their devices. It can be a great "Beach Read" if you are looking to build healthier technology habits this summer.

Click HERE to read a review of the book in the Wall Street Journal (Subscription may be required)

 ARTICLES WORTH YOUR TIME

• France is looking ban social media for teens, following Australia's lead - France's President Emmanuel Macron is looking to ban social media for children under the age of 15, but faces significant hurdles both at home and through the EU. Click HERE to read the article in Politico.com
• CT Passes Bill to Regulate Social Media Use for Kids - In May 2025, the Connecticut State Legislature passed a bill to limit the use of social media algorithms on children. Legislators decided to take action due to the lack of progress from the Federal Government in this type of regulation. Click HERE to read more about House Bill 6857 in CT.
• Family Tech Reset - Following up on the theme of our last newsletter, here is a post that offers a first hand account of how a family navigated their own "Family Tech Reset". It offers practical advice and shares very relatable experiences around changing course on technology privledges. Click HERE to read more at After Babel.

Help New Canaan Unplug

If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.

New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.