MN Unplugged Statewide WhatsApp
Join parents and caregivers organizing across Minnesota — share wins, ask questions, and connect with others near you.
Join the chat →For families
Parent Pact
We're a community of 196 families and educators supporting each other in delaying smartphones and social media.
The 196 Unplugged Parent Pact
Give childhood back to our kids — together.
When enough families in the same school commit together, the social pressure flips. "Not yet" becomes the norm, not the exception. And kids get more of what they actually need: time, freedom, and each other.
Sign the Parent Pact →
See pact families Coming soon
Does your child already have a smartphone?
You're still welcome here. You can sign on to the other three commitments for that child.
What we're committing to
The Four Commitments
By signing, you commit to four shared promises — made easier when we make them together.
-
1
Delay smartphones.
Wait until at least 9th grade. Basic phones for calls, texts, and GPS are welcome.
-
2
Delay social media.
No Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or similar platforms until at least age 16.
-
3
Encourage wise tech use at school.
Support District 196 in using technology that's intentional, age-appropriate, and in service of learning.
-
4
Support other families.
Share ideas and resources in a positive, shame-free way and create space for kids to connect in the real world.
"Parents need to connect and coordinate on how our kids use technology. It would be hard to be the only kid that doesn't have a phone or social media but easy if we take action together."— Kyle Koch, 196 Parent
Adapted with gratitude from Screenwise Ann Arbor
A zero-judgment community
Does your child already have a smartphone?
You're welcome here.
The Parent Pact isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about finding other families who share your values, so none of us has to hold the line alone.
If your child already has a smartphone, you're still invited to sign the other three commitments. There's no score. No shame. Just parents who believe childhood is worth protecting — starting wherever you are.
Connect at your school
Find your School Captain.
Every school in District 196 has a parent captain who helps connect families, share resources, and grow the pact at the school level. These are trusted neighbors — not policy experts — just parents helping other parents find their people.
Find Your School Captain
See who the parent captain is at your school and reach out — they can connect you with other families who have signed the pact.
View the Captain Directory →See Pact Families at Your School
See which families at your school have already signed the pact, organized by school and graduation year.
View the Family List Coming soonIs your school missing a captain? Reach out about stepping up →
Stay connected
Join the conversation.
Real-world connection starts with finding each other. Here's where the 196 Unplugged community gathers.
Follow MN Unplugged for updates, action alerts, and community moments worth sharing.
@mn_unplugged →Like and follow MN Unplugged for news and community discussion.
MN Unplugged →Research & resources
The evidence behind the ask.
We're pro-evidence, not anti-tech. These are the resources we lean on most — from research hubs to global movements.
SBS Library
A curated library of screen time & tech research
Research from The Anxious Generation
Jonathan Haidt's research hub on tech & youth mental health
Smartphone Free Childhood
A global movement of families working to delay smartphones and social media for kids
Wait Until 8th
A pledge empowering parents to delay smartphones until at least 8th grade
Questions?
Get in touch.
We'd love to connect — whether you want to get involved, share a win, or just ask a question.