In today’s powerful conversation, I sit down with Mark Yeowell from Digital Tweens, a leading expert on children’s early smartphone use, to unpack the real impacts of giving tweens their first phone. Drawing on his UNSW doctoral research and 30+ years in education, Mark shares what actually changes for kids when they step into the digital world and why he calls this stage Digital Puberty.

We explore the unexpected challenges parents face (spoiler: it’s not the “big scary” online harms), the rise of the scroll hole, feelings of overload, and the self-described “addiction” tweens experience as they navigate online spaces for the first time.

Mark also introduces his incredibly helpful DRIVER framework — a practical, parent-friendly guide to delaying, restricting, staying involved, keeping visibility, educating, and role-modelling when it comes to your child’s digital life. Whether your child is asking for their first smartphone, already has one, or you're trying to wind things back, this episode will empower you with strategies, insights, and the confidence to be the digital parent your child needs.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The surprising wellbeing and developmental impacts of a child’s first smartphone
• Why Digital Puberty is just as significant as physical puberty
• How the “scroll hole” develops — and what parents can do
• The overwhelm of group chats and constant notifications
• Practical ways to reduce conflict during the transition to smartphone ownership
• The DRIVER framework for setting up healthy digital habits
• Why it’s never too late to reset boundaries
• What schools and communities should be doing to support digital wellbeing

Driver:

Delay – Wait until you are confident your child is ready for a device, they actually need it, and you can actively support and guide them.

Restrict – Set and maintain clear boundaries. As your child consistently demonstrates responsibility and capability, gradually relax them.

Involved – Stay engaged and show genuine curiosity about your child’s digital world. Ask questions and use technology together to really understand what they’re doing online.

Visibility – Keep devices in shared spaces (not bedrooms) and ensure online activity is open and transparent, allowing you to monitor, guide, and support them.

Educate – Explicitly teach your child digital literacy and digital citizenship skills, along with strategies to manage technology’s impact on their wellbeing.

Role model – Demonstrate the digital behaviours you want your child to adopt. They’re watching and learning more from what you do than what you say.

Links Mentioned:

• Digital Tweens: www.digitaltweens.com.au
• Digital Tweens on Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram
• Subscribe to Mark’s weekly blog updates

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