Hacker News Reader

Human interaction outside of school is coordinated by kids with smartphones, using smartphone apps, to other kids who have smartphones.

No joke a child without a smartphone would seem weird to the rest of the group and risk alienation bases solely on the lack of that smartphone.

Seriously, even as an adult I have circles of friends who exclusively organize events through Facebook and interact with each other through Snapchat and Instagram. When I was a wee nerd I would've resented my parents intensely if they had cut me off from my AIM and ICQ accounts, hah.

Social media is like booze - social lubricant when used responsibly, but can cause problems in those with addictive personalities. Teach your children to use it responsibly, instead of forcing them to be teetotalers.

Hello, human here. Interacting with you through a screen now.

So you want your kids to grow up friendless? That is pretty much the de facto outcome of removing the platform where all the other kids are getting their shared experiences, forming groups, planning parties, creating inside jokes, etc.