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Smartphone Nation: Why We're All Addicted to Our Screens and What You and Your Family Can Do about It
Smartphones, social media and AI are here to stay. Leading expert Professor Kaitlyn Regehr, The Digital Nutritionist, gives us the tools to consume them safely, keeping the advantages and joy of the digital world, but teaching us how to and spot risks and dangers and step away when we’re over-reliant. She believes that our constant, unconscious scrolling is as dangerous as smoking and here she offers a clear process for embedding ‘digital nutrition’ - healthy interaction with our phones and devices - in our daily lives.
After all, it is clear we are living in the age of the smartphone. We all rely on our devices, checking them multiple times an hour, but, increasingly, we worry about the impact of our – and our kids’ – phone use. UCL professor Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr is a leading expert on the effect of digital technology on our brains and in Smartphone Nation she sets out how the content we consume is created, why it’s so addictive, and gives us the tools and understanding to protect ourselves, and our families, from harm.
Removing smartphones from our lives is unrealistic and instead, we need to learn how we can use them healthily and safely. Smartphone Nation will explain exactly how algorithms work, why you’re being shown the particular content you are, and how AI has the potential to change the way you think, whilst equipping you with the tools you need to take control of this often overwhelming online world.
Smartphone Nation is a game-changing practical book that empowers us to enjoy the benefits of technology while understanding how it works, how to teach our kids, and for each and every one of us to be in control of how we use it.
After all, it is clear we are living in the age of the smartphone. We all rely on our devices, checking them multiple times an hour, but, increasingly, we worry about the impact of our – and our kids’ – phone use. UCL professor Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr is a leading expert on the effect of digital technology on our brains and in Smartphone Nation she sets out how the content we consume is created, why it’s so addictive, and gives us the tools and understanding to protect ourselves, and our families, from harm.
Removing smartphones from our lives is unrealistic and instead, we need to learn how we can use them healthily and safely. Smartphone Nation will explain exactly how algorithms work, why you’re being shown the particular content you are, and how AI has the potential to change the way you think, whilst equipping you with the tools you need to take control of this often overwhelming online world.
Smartphone Nation is a game-changing practical book that empowers us to enjoy the benefits of technology while understanding how it works, how to teach our kids, and for each and every one of us to be in control of how we use it.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published August 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 30, 2026
Instead of my parents taking my screen time away when I needed to do chores, they took away my books.
This promises to bring something new to the table, a call-to-action, a comprehensive, realistic, and understandable guide.
I found it basic, obvious, and geared towards parents who are giving children their first phones and have no online smarts.
Maybe I’m cynical as I’m 22 years old. My parents were helicopter parents and began by monitoring my usage, but I was a girl rather fond of climbing trees, dancing, and reading.
My first social media account was set to private, my parents encouraged me to come to them if I ever had questions or came across anything I didn’t like. I was taught and encouraged to use the block button.
Standard parenting I had thought.
According to this book, that is above and beyond.
The advice for adults is all geared towards parenting ‘hacks’ that are common sense. The main takeaway was monitor your feed and how you’re feeling about it.
A very basic overview that I hope everyone is already aware of in the 21st century.
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This promises to bring something new to the table, a call-to-action, a comprehensive, realistic, and understandable guide.
I found it basic, obvious, and geared towards parents who are giving children their first phones and have no online smarts.
Maybe I’m cynical as I’m 22 years old. My parents were helicopter parents and began by monitoring my usage, but I was a girl rather fond of climbing trees, dancing, and reading.
My first social media account was set to private, my parents encouraged me to come to them if I ever had questions or came across anything I didn’t like. I was taught and encouraged to use the block button.
Standard parenting I had thought.
According to this book, that is above and beyond.
The advice for adults is all geared towards parenting ‘hacks’ that are common sense. The main takeaway was monitor your feed and how you’re feeling about it.
A very basic overview that I hope everyone is already aware of in the 21st century.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
April 18, 2025
So … I don’t think I was the target market for this book.
It focuses a lot on parenting and how to encourage healthy screen habits amongst kids, I’m 20 send childless …
Outside of that, it raised some interesting concepts and exploration of how we’ve become addicted to phones, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most thorough account I’ve read - probably because that’s not what the author set out to do.
Overall it’s a short little book, and worth a go
It focuses a lot on parenting and how to encourage healthy screen habits amongst kids, I’m 20 send childless …
Outside of that, it raised some interesting concepts and exploration of how we’ve become addicted to phones, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most thorough account I’ve read - probably because that’s not what the author set out to do.
Overall it’s a short little book, and worth a go
April 8, 2026
This book is a must if you are a parent. I loved the anxious generation and this feels like a great follow up book. She really focuses on practical strategies parents can use to teach kids about smartphone usage. Her standpoint is that putting off giving your kids a device until 16 is a great plan, but at some point they are going to be part of the digital world so we need to start now teaching them how to be responsible online. She also talks about how limiting screen time used to be an effective strategy but things are much more complex now. So she talks about active vs passive screen time and how to set boundaries with kids with the different types of screen time in mind. I found a lot of the strategies helpful and I think they would be especially helpful for parents with teenagers who are already online.
May 9, 2025
This isn't just another book blaming us for spending too much time on social media or telling us to just cut down our screen time. Regehr points out how tech companies love putting the blame on us. Instead, she digs into how these platforms work – the algorithms, the “you-loops” that feed us more of the similar content and suck us into a giant vortex of “echo chambers”.
One of the most haunting and heartbreaking stories that Regehr shares is that of Molly, who died by suicide at the age of fourteen. After her death, her father Ian accessed some of her social media accounts. What he found wasn't just teenage popstars. Molly's screen became “awash with red.” Self-harm images, despairing sketches, posts glorifying anxiety, depression, and suicide. Algorithms had fed these to Molly. She’d seen over sixteen thousand such pieces of content in her last six months. Two thousand were about self-harm or suicide. In November 2017, Molly took her own life. She was fourteen.
Regehr worries about more than just kids. The January 6th Capitol riot in the US and the more recent, horrific 2024 Southport stabbing at a kids' Taylor Swift yoga class in the UK, followed by racist, anti-immigrant protests showed that adults get sucked in too. “You-loops” and “echo chambers” don’t just twist reality, they actively fuel rage.
The book also rings the alarm on “sharenting” – parents constantly posting about their kids, building digital records from birth. Barclays Bank thinks this could cause two-thirds of youth identity fraud by 2030. Then there's what Regehr calls “truth decay.” Facts erode. Disinformation and violence spread online, fanned by figures like Andrew Tate. The young attacker of Southport stabbing had consumed masses of extremist content. These aren't random awful events. They're signs of a system where, as Regehr says, “disinformation can be more attention-grabbing than truth and thus rewarded by the algorithm.” And yes, it's the same system that can make it way too easy for parents to use phones as digital babysitters.
Regehr isn’t anti-tech though. She is fiercely pro-information. She suggests “Digital Nutrition.” Think of it like a healthy food diet, but for screens. It’s not just how much screen time, but what kind. We need to move from mindless scrolling to active, thoughtful engagement. Each chapter has these brilliant “What You Can Do About It” sections where she gives real strategies such as “game your algorithm” with “algorithmic resistance”, and using a “walk-through” method with our children.
But doing it all on your own isn’t enough. The problem isn’t just us. It’s the companies that design for addiction, optimize for outrage, and profit from disinformation. Holding them accountable, however, is harder than it seems.
Think about it – almost everything we consume is regulated, from the food we eat and the medicines we take to the cars we drive. But when it comes to social media and online platforms, this is less the case. Regehr explains how tech giants manage to dodge regulation with two clever strategies: the argument of “causation” and the shield of “free speech.”
When confronted with the harms linked to their platforms—teen suicide, misinformation, violent extremism—companies like Facebook claim there’s no scientific evidence of direct causation. Regehr compares this defense to how the tobacco industry used to deny that smoking causes cancer. Strictly speaking, it’s true: you can’t definitively prove smoking causes cancer in the way these companies demand. Doing so would require an unethical randomized controlled trial. That means forcing one group of people to smoke heavily and another group not to, then observing them for years. Obviously, that's impossible and unethical. Yet, tech companies demand this same impossible standard of proof for social media harm.
They also wave the “free speech” flag to fight regulation. This argument is powerful, especially in the US with its First Amendment history. Tech giants like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) present themselves not as publishers but as platforms, like an open town square. It’s a subtle but significant distinction. Publishers, by law, are responsible for what they print. Platforms, on the other hand, claim they’re just hosting content without endorsing it. Regehr points out that this argument is dangerously convenient.
She explains that while platforms are shouting about commitment to free speech, they are, in fact, constantly making editorial decisions: who gets amplified, who gets silenced, what gets monetized. The algorithms aren’t neutral. They are heavily curated. And the idea that regulation automatically kills free speech doesn't hold up either. Newspapers, TV, and radio have regulations and free speech. Regehr points out the absurdity: content “too brutal for broadcast on TV” is easily found by kids online. The money behind the attention economy needs a rethink.
In the end, Smartphone Nation isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about reclaiming agency. It gives you the knowledge to understand what's happening when you scroll and the tools to take back some control.
(I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book. Thanks to the publisher, Bluebird (an imprint of Pan Macmillan), and Netgalley. Smartphone Nation is expected to be released on 15 May 2025 in the UK, and 2 December 2025 in the US.)
One of the most haunting and heartbreaking stories that Regehr shares is that of Molly, who died by suicide at the age of fourteen. After her death, her father Ian accessed some of her social media accounts. What he found wasn't just teenage popstars. Molly's screen became “awash with red.” Self-harm images, despairing sketches, posts glorifying anxiety, depression, and suicide. Algorithms had fed these to Molly. She’d seen over sixteen thousand such pieces of content in her last six months. Two thousand were about self-harm or suicide. In November 2017, Molly took her own life. She was fourteen.
Regehr worries about more than just kids. The January 6th Capitol riot in the US and the more recent, horrific 2024 Southport stabbing at a kids' Taylor Swift yoga class in the UK, followed by racist, anti-immigrant protests showed that adults get sucked in too. “You-loops” and “echo chambers” don’t just twist reality, they actively fuel rage.
The book also rings the alarm on “sharenting” – parents constantly posting about their kids, building digital records from birth. Barclays Bank thinks this could cause two-thirds of youth identity fraud by 2030. Then there's what Regehr calls “truth decay.” Facts erode. Disinformation and violence spread online, fanned by figures like Andrew Tate. The young attacker of Southport stabbing had consumed masses of extremist content. These aren't random awful events. They're signs of a system where, as Regehr says, “disinformation can be more attention-grabbing than truth and thus rewarded by the algorithm.” And yes, it's the same system that can make it way too easy for parents to use phones as digital babysitters.
Regehr isn’t anti-tech though. She is fiercely pro-information. She suggests “Digital Nutrition.” Think of it like a healthy food diet, but for screens. It’s not just how much screen time, but what kind. We need to move from mindless scrolling to active, thoughtful engagement. Each chapter has these brilliant “What You Can Do About It” sections where she gives real strategies such as “game your algorithm” with “algorithmic resistance”, and using a “walk-through” method with our children.
But doing it all on your own isn’t enough. The problem isn’t just us. It’s the companies that design for addiction, optimize for outrage, and profit from disinformation. Holding them accountable, however, is harder than it seems.
Think about it – almost everything we consume is regulated, from the food we eat and the medicines we take to the cars we drive. But when it comes to social media and online platforms, this is less the case. Regehr explains how tech giants manage to dodge regulation with two clever strategies: the argument of “causation” and the shield of “free speech.”
When confronted with the harms linked to their platforms—teen suicide, misinformation, violent extremism—companies like Facebook claim there’s no scientific evidence of direct causation. Regehr compares this defense to how the tobacco industry used to deny that smoking causes cancer. Strictly speaking, it’s true: you can’t definitively prove smoking causes cancer in the way these companies demand. Doing so would require an unethical randomized controlled trial. That means forcing one group of people to smoke heavily and another group not to, then observing them for years. Obviously, that's impossible and unethical. Yet, tech companies demand this same impossible standard of proof for social media harm.
They also wave the “free speech” flag to fight regulation. This argument is powerful, especially in the US with its First Amendment history. Tech giants like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) present themselves not as publishers but as platforms, like an open town square. It’s a subtle but significant distinction. Publishers, by law, are responsible for what they print. Platforms, on the other hand, claim they’re just hosting content without endorsing it. Regehr points out that this argument is dangerously convenient.
She explains that while platforms are shouting about commitment to free speech, they are, in fact, constantly making editorial decisions: who gets amplified, who gets silenced, what gets monetized. The algorithms aren’t neutral. They are heavily curated. And the idea that regulation automatically kills free speech doesn't hold up either. Newspapers, TV, and radio have regulations and free speech. Regehr points out the absurdity: content “too brutal for broadcast on TV” is easily found by kids online. The money behind the attention economy needs a rethink.
In the end, Smartphone Nation isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about reclaiming agency. It gives you the knowledge to understand what's happening when you scroll and the tools to take back some control.
(I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book. Thanks to the publisher, Bluebird (an imprint of Pan Macmillan), and Netgalley. Smartphone Nation is expected to be released on 15 May 2025 in the UK, and 2 December 2025 in the US.)
January 26, 2026
A really interesting read. Dr Regehr gives achievable and realistic advice on how to manage your screen time through digital nutrition. I like how they accepted that smartphones and screens were a part of our modern world and they did not suggest that we just stopped using them. Instead, they focused on the benefits of digital devices for connection, education and creativity and invites us to use our devices for those purposes rather than just passively doomscrolling on social media. Would definitely recommend for everyone, especially for parents who are unsure about how to navigate their children's phone use.
August 17, 2025
2.5⭐️
I don't think I was the intended audience for this book, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
I am a childless person, and the majority of this book discusses media consumption and smart phone usage by and with children. While the author states it is all applicable to any age, the consistent repetition of parenting applications and how kids respond to things kept me from forming a connection with the information in the book.
Besides this, there is a lot of interesting information, but I think the marketing of this book needs to be better done to emphasize the parenting aspect of this, and not just smart phone usage by the average person.
I don't think I was the intended audience for this book, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
I am a childless person, and the majority of this book discusses media consumption and smart phone usage by and with children. While the author states it is all applicable to any age, the consistent repetition of parenting applications and how kids respond to things kept me from forming a connection with the information in the book.
Besides this, there is a lot of interesting information, but I think the marketing of this book needs to be better done to emphasize the parenting aspect of this, and not just smart phone usage by the average person.
May 28, 2025
This is such an illuminating read - explaining how the attention economy has made us all permanently attached to our phones.
But it's not a depressing read at all - there's loads of practical advice on how to liberate yourself from the tyranny of devices.
Phenomenally well researched - i honestly feel better for having read it.
But it's not a depressing read at all - there's loads of practical advice on how to liberate yourself from the tyranny of devices.
Phenomenally well researched - i honestly feel better for having read it.
July 21, 2025
2.5 - although largely as I wasn’t the intended recipient of this book. I guess the people who are most likely to feel anxiety about screen time usage and thus buy a book about it are the parents of young children - but this book doesn’t really disclose that it’s targeted at this group from the blurb or the cover. Despite promising claims of advice on digital content awareness and taking control of your screen time delivered by an expert in the field, the book was essentially a fluffed up article. Coming in hot at 160 pages in massive font and double spacing I can’t believe I paid 22 euro for this.
There is some valuable content that is interesting and there are attempts at showing the evolution of algorithms and social media over time, but if this is a self help book for adults it should be marketed as such. Ironic for a book criticising the subversive advertising techniques of online media.
There is some valuable content that is interesting and there are attempts at showing the evolution of algorithms and social media over time, but if this is a self help book for adults it should be marketed as such. Ironic for a book criticising the subversive advertising techniques of online media.
March 6, 2026
4.5 - rating only lower because I think I longed for even more supportive strategies alongside even more damning research, likely a product of my existing awareness about the perils of smartphones. A great read, especially if you have children.
September 11, 2025
Very informative and depressing, what’s the point basically x
But seriously, I would say the target audience is parents and now I don’t want to be one.
But seriously, I would say the target audience is parents and now I don’t want to be one.
March 13, 2026
This book was so boring but I tried to push through because it was so short. I am already familiar with a lot of the topics presented in this book and didn’t have many takeaways.
Read
March 28, 2026Not surprising. Still depressing.
May 28, 2025
Terrifying. Make it stop. Policy follows the people, and the people need to push for better regulation and hold these fucking tech companies to account. Really do feel like my only option is to delete social media if I want a different life, to kick the addiction that we all have to varying degrees.
Read
November 2, 2025While there is some good stuff in here (especially for parents) I think some other books cover this topic better. I did, however, enjoy the first few chapters and their focus on truth decay, disinformation, and algorithms.
July 3, 2026
Told me a lot of stuff I already knew, but didn't want to acknowledge. Lots of strategies to unpick current habits, lots of new ways to think about what our daily tech use actually contributes to our own lives, and to tech and social media companies. Will probably read this one again.
May 15, 2026
Tough but very necessary in the world we live in!
July 12, 2026
In Smartphone Nation: Why We're All Addicted to Screens and What You Can Do About It, Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, one of the UK's leading experts on social media, has published an informative, practical guide that will be invaluable in helping many people understand just what it is that has us all hooked on our phones and how we can take back control of our usage.
Regehr first confronts the reader with an uncomfortable truth - that the Internet is almost entirely unregulated and, far from being designed to protect users from harm, its driving aim is to exploit our attention for profit. This is a frightening thought; we are so used to assuming that what we consume has been meticulously tested and regulated that we don't think to consider if this is the case with the Internet, and specifically social media. This is the first - but not the last - time that Regehr likens the Internet to food; where the food industry is strictly controlled by national governing bodies, no government currently has sufficient understanding to do the same with the apps and platforms that almost everyone interacts with on a daily basis.
Regehr delves into the history of the Internet and considers how its origins as an intended unregulated free speech utopia have led us to the point we are now at - where content that would not get past the censors of traditional media such as television and radio is freely available to even vulnerable young people. She delves into topics including body image, eating disorders, self-harming, pornography and radicalisation, each claim she makes supported by multiple reputable sources. She interrogates assurances by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg that there is no proven correlation between social media use and worse adolescent mental health, asserting that applying a scientific standard of proof (through a randomised controlled trial) in this area is not feasible, but that there is myriad evidence that, while social media may not be proven to cause mental health problems in children and adolescents, it certainly exacerbates any existing vulnerabilities by repeatedly targeting users with pro-suicide and self-harming content, radical ideas and unrealistic images of perfection, to name but a few. The flipside of free speech is how effectively the Internet disseminates harmful ideas and misinformation, and how algorithms, rather than encouraging us to open our minds and consider contrasting viewpoints, compound our thinking by feeding us more and more content that complements what we have already engaged with. Case studies of both real and hypothetical young people help the reader to relate the discussion to their own families.
Smartphone Nation is also a call to arms; Regehr reminds readers that this technology is no longer really new - Gen Z, many of whom are now adults, have no memory of life before the Internet - and it is past time that we stop and consider what is healthy and appropriate for us to consume, especially given the apathy around the subject displayed by both governments and Big Tech. 'So much of the focus of all these parent initiatives,' writes Regehr, 'like many grassroots movements – is to load the failings of corporate responsibility and government onto the community. That is , they are important movements, but ideally they shouldn’t be necessary. Beyond personal responsibility, there is a much greater corporate and regulatory responsibility to solve these problems and it’s high time we started looking in that direction.' In various areas, Regehr describes how law-makers have failed to keep pace with developments in this field, for example, that legislation around porn sites misunderstands how young people are often first exposed to porn - they are far more likely to come across it unintentionally on social media than to seek it out on sites such as Porn Hub. Meanwhile, for as long as they are able to make advertising revenue from our very human need to connect, companies such as Meta are disincentivised to make their platforms safer if this means making less money.
Each chapter culminates in practical, realistic advice on how to curb smartphone reliance and take back control over the content we (and our children) are exposed to. From specific tips around gaming the algorithms and using a 'phone fed log' to track how you use your phone and how it makes you feel to guidance on how to teach even young children to think critically and interrogate the authenticity of content, Regehr gives parents and non-parents the tools to use smartphones more safely and positively. She holds parents to account with regard to uncomfortable conversations, specifically around sexually explicit content.
From years as a primary school teacher, I know that children may cringe at the idea of having conversations about sex with their grown-ups, but they ultimately feel much more comfortable learning about these topics in a safe, informed setting with people they trust. Regehr is firm in her insistence that parental controls will only go so far - we need to directly engage with our children's phone usage if we want to help them. She confronts parents with the truth of social media - that platforms are actively promoting harmful content to vulnerable children and young people. It is imperative that parents understand how these apps work in order to recognise that allowing their children unchecked access to them could be catastrophic.
Regehr is not naïve to the challenges of asking any of us to give up our smartphones - or even to put them in a drawer for the weekend; she acknowledges that, for better or worse, they are an integral part of our social norms. Instead, her advice focuses on being more deliberate and mindful in our usage, setting personal boundaries that make sense for our lifestyles. Her advice avoids being reductive; she notes how beneficial the internet can be as a platform for people to share their ideas far more widely than when their options were to shout from a soapbox or pen a letter to the editor, and goes on to acknowledge how helpful smartphones can be for young people specifically: for homework, organisation, navigation, tracking for anxious parents and socialising. She notes the importance of children growing up prepared for life and work in the digital age: 'They were born into a digital world which is - for better or worse - their birthright.'
I was intrigued to read Regehr's thoughts on screentime, a concept which she believes to be outdated and overly simplistic. Returning to the food analogy from the beginning of the book, she suggests that we should consider screen use in similar terms to those we use for nutrition - most of it is okay in moderation but not all screen time is equally healthy; some is indisputably worse. I found the distinction she draws between active screen time, such as writing this book review in my phone's notes app, doing homework or even watching a show and discussing it, and passive screen time, such as doom scrolling, reassuring as a parent and smartphone user.
Much of what she says is aimed at parents, and it is this group that I would primarily recommend the book too, but Regehr repeatedly reinforces that smartphones are harmful for us all - unless we learn to take back the power and hold the industry to account. I will certainly be putting some of her recommendations into practice and returning to this book when my own children are a little older.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Regehr first confronts the reader with an uncomfortable truth - that the Internet is almost entirely unregulated and, far from being designed to protect users from harm, its driving aim is to exploit our attention for profit. This is a frightening thought; we are so used to assuming that what we consume has been meticulously tested and regulated that we don't think to consider if this is the case with the Internet, and specifically social media. This is the first - but not the last - time that Regehr likens the Internet to food; where the food industry is strictly controlled by national governing bodies, no government currently has sufficient understanding to do the same with the apps and platforms that almost everyone interacts with on a daily basis.
Regehr delves into the history of the Internet and considers how its origins as an intended unregulated free speech utopia have led us to the point we are now at - where content that would not get past the censors of traditional media such as television and radio is freely available to even vulnerable young people. She delves into topics including body image, eating disorders, self-harming, pornography and radicalisation, each claim she makes supported by multiple reputable sources. She interrogates assurances by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg that there is no proven correlation between social media use and worse adolescent mental health, asserting that applying a scientific standard of proof (through a randomised controlled trial) in this area is not feasible, but that there is myriad evidence that, while social media may not be proven to cause mental health problems in children and adolescents, it certainly exacerbates any existing vulnerabilities by repeatedly targeting users with pro-suicide and self-harming content, radical ideas and unrealistic images of perfection, to name but a few. The flipside of free speech is how effectively the Internet disseminates harmful ideas and misinformation, and how algorithms, rather than encouraging us to open our minds and consider contrasting viewpoints, compound our thinking by feeding us more and more content that complements what we have already engaged with. Case studies of both real and hypothetical young people help the reader to relate the discussion to their own families.
Smartphone Nation is also a call to arms; Regehr reminds readers that this technology is no longer really new - Gen Z, many of whom are now adults, have no memory of life before the Internet - and it is past time that we stop and consider what is healthy and appropriate for us to consume, especially given the apathy around the subject displayed by both governments and Big Tech. 'So much of the focus of all these parent initiatives,' writes Regehr, 'like many grassroots movements – is to load the failings of corporate responsibility and government onto the community. That is , they are important movements, but ideally they shouldn’t be necessary. Beyond personal responsibility, there is a much greater corporate and regulatory responsibility to solve these problems and it’s high time we started looking in that direction.' In various areas, Regehr describes how law-makers have failed to keep pace with developments in this field, for example, that legislation around porn sites misunderstands how young people are often first exposed to porn - they are far more likely to come across it unintentionally on social media than to seek it out on sites such as Porn Hub. Meanwhile, for as long as they are able to make advertising revenue from our very human need to connect, companies such as Meta are disincentivised to make their platforms safer if this means making less money.
Each chapter culminates in practical, realistic advice on how to curb smartphone reliance and take back control over the content we (and our children) are exposed to. From specific tips around gaming the algorithms and using a 'phone fed log' to track how you use your phone and how it makes you feel to guidance on how to teach even young children to think critically and interrogate the authenticity of content, Regehr gives parents and non-parents the tools to use smartphones more safely and positively. She holds parents to account with regard to uncomfortable conversations, specifically around sexually explicit content.
From years as a primary school teacher, I know that children may cringe at the idea of having conversations about sex with their grown-ups, but they ultimately feel much more comfortable learning about these topics in a safe, informed setting with people they trust. Regehr is firm in her insistence that parental controls will only go so far - we need to directly engage with our children's phone usage if we want to help them. She confronts parents with the truth of social media - that platforms are actively promoting harmful content to vulnerable children and young people. It is imperative that parents understand how these apps work in order to recognise that allowing their children unchecked access to them could be catastrophic.
Regehr is not naïve to the challenges of asking any of us to give up our smartphones - or even to put them in a drawer for the weekend; she acknowledges that, for better or worse, they are an integral part of our social norms. Instead, her advice focuses on being more deliberate and mindful in our usage, setting personal boundaries that make sense for our lifestyles. Her advice avoids being reductive; she notes how beneficial the internet can be as a platform for people to share their ideas far more widely than when their options were to shout from a soapbox or pen a letter to the editor, and goes on to acknowledge how helpful smartphones can be for young people specifically: for homework, organisation, navigation, tracking for anxious parents and socialising. She notes the importance of children growing up prepared for life and work in the digital age: 'They were born into a digital world which is - for better or worse - their birthright.'
I was intrigued to read Regehr's thoughts on screentime, a concept which she believes to be outdated and overly simplistic. Returning to the food analogy from the beginning of the book, she suggests that we should consider screen use in similar terms to those we use for nutrition - most of it is okay in moderation but not all screen time is equally healthy; some is indisputably worse. I found the distinction she draws between active screen time, such as writing this book review in my phone's notes app, doing homework or even watching a show and discussing it, and passive screen time, such as doom scrolling, reassuring as a parent and smartphone user.
Much of what she says is aimed at parents, and it is this group that I would primarily recommend the book too, but Regehr repeatedly reinforces that smartphones are harmful for us all - unless we learn to take back the power and hold the industry to account. I will certainly be putting some of her recommendations into practice and returning to this book when my own children are a little older.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2025
First of all I will say I'm probably not this books target audience as an 18 year old male just looking to reduce my screen time a tad. However, it is kind of marketed in a way that suggests it will be my one stop shop to get rid of my doomscrolling.
Before I critique this book I would like to talk about some things I enjoyed. From the beginning the idea that we are the products of these tech giants was really eye opening for me. It's true, we are algorithmically pulled into waste hours of our time so more ads can be pumped into our usage time in order to make these tech companies massive amounts of ad revenue. So I will definitely be consciously thinking of this as I begin my journey to reduce my screen time.
I would also like to say the book is very well written with great use on anecdotes and mini stories which aid in presenting a larger point.
But where this book falls short is the content related to the 'what you can do about it' part of the title. I mean sure there are some mildly useful tips like greyscale mode and time limits but we always find ways to break these promises to ourselves. Other than this the author suggests many ways to stop children from accessing harmful content but we all know that they will find a way around it and education will likely be overshadowed by curiosity.
Just as a little side note the end of book addressed legislatory aspects of phone usage but as a reader I don't really care about the inner conversations between these tech companies and governments. It's not like I'm going to start a revolution or anything, I'm just looking to cut my YouTube doomscrolling for 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
Overall 1/5 due to the massive amounts of fact sharing with very minimal prevention strategies.
Before I critique this book I would like to talk about some things I enjoyed. From the beginning the idea that we are the products of these tech giants was really eye opening for me. It's true, we are algorithmically pulled into waste hours of our time so more ads can be pumped into our usage time in order to make these tech companies massive amounts of ad revenue. So I will definitely be consciously thinking of this as I begin my journey to reduce my screen time.
I would also like to say the book is very well written with great use on anecdotes and mini stories which aid in presenting a larger point.
But where this book falls short is the content related to the 'what you can do about it' part of the title. I mean sure there are some mildly useful tips like greyscale mode and time limits but we always find ways to break these promises to ourselves. Other than this the author suggests many ways to stop children from accessing harmful content but we all know that they will find a way around it and education will likely be overshadowed by curiosity.
Just as a little side note the end of book addressed legislatory aspects of phone usage but as a reader I don't really care about the inner conversations between these tech companies and governments. It's not like I'm going to start a revolution or anything, I'm just looking to cut my YouTube doomscrolling for 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
Overall 1/5 due to the massive amounts of fact sharing with very minimal prevention strategies.
July 22, 2026
Overall it was a quick and somewhat interesting read. I think the blurb did not highlight enough that this is aimed at parents, but tried to make it sound like universally applicable advice. Some of it is, but most of the content is about how to make your child aware of the dangers of the internet.
+ The book is about an important topic.
+ it was easy to read and had a good structure.
+ For each topic an example story is given, which makes the consequences clear
+ It provides some concrete tips for parents. Especially around what conversations to have with your children.
- When speaking about harm for children, the book basically omitted speaking about anonymity. In my opinion this is one of the biggest issues, and not allowing children to spaces with anonymous identities could help alleviate many problems.
- The strategies in the book were often based on self-control & awareness. If I barely have enough self-control at 30 to keep away from these platforms, so I think it is a lot to ask of children. Also I try to avoid these strategies since they are often easy to ignore or bypass, which often means that I don't follow them myself.
- I was missing some more strict strategies. There are stronger blocking apps or devices available (like the brick phone). Also VPNs were not mentioned.
The timing is maybe a bit unfortunate, since there are a lot of books out on this topic and hence this book does not add much new information. Concrete tips are nice to have, but also quickly outdated, since the industry is moving quite fast.
+ The book is about an important topic.
+ it was easy to read and had a good structure.
+ For each topic an example story is given, which makes the consequences clear
+ It provides some concrete tips for parents. Especially around what conversations to have with your children.
- When speaking about harm for children, the book basically omitted speaking about anonymity. In my opinion this is one of the biggest issues, and not allowing children to spaces with anonymous identities could help alleviate many problems.
- The strategies in the book were often based on self-control & awareness. If I barely have enough self-control at 30 to keep away from these platforms, so I think it is a lot to ask of children. Also I try to avoid these strategies since they are often easy to ignore or bypass, which often means that I don't follow them myself.
- I was missing some more strict strategies. There are stronger blocking apps or devices available (like the brick phone). Also VPNs were not mentioned.
The timing is maybe a bit unfortunate, since there are a lot of books out on this topic and hence this book does not add much new information. Concrete tips are nice to have, but also quickly outdated, since the industry is moving quite fast.
May 13, 2025
This is an accessible, thought-provoking read. Looking at smartphone usage for both children and adults, it highlights the ways in which we are all effectively giving away our likes, dislikes, interests and personal information and offering it up to advertisers who then target us with ever more specific ads. It also looks at the darker side of smartphone use, the content that children are exposed to from a very young age, as well as discussing screen time as a potential issue, and ways to address these things with your children.
I really liked that the book felt balanced, in that it isn't a diatribe against technological advances. And the suggestions and ideas for ways to check you're not stuck in a you-loop, and how you can moderate your own usage, as well as your children's, were all useful. I've already implemented some of the ideas within my own feed, and discussed the book with my children. Although it does make reference to children throughout, I found it relevant to my own smartphone usage, and so I think it isn't just for parents and would be a useful reminder of monitoring what information you are giving away, and thinking about your active and passive phone usage.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for my ARC.
I really liked that the book felt balanced, in that it isn't a diatribe against technological advances. And the suggestions and ideas for ways to check you're not stuck in a you-loop, and how you can moderate your own usage, as well as your children's, were all useful. I've already implemented some of the ideas within my own feed, and discussed the book with my children. Although it does make reference to children throughout, I found it relevant to my own smartphone usage, and so I think it isn't just for parents and would be a useful reminder of monitoring what information you are giving away, and thinking about your active and passive phone usage.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for my ARC.
January 17, 2026
3.5 stars. This book discusses the dangers encountered on the internet accessed via multiple devices and gives good advice to how to engage with information/ media in a meaningful manner and how to tailor your algorithm to fit your needs. I found this book quite eye-opening especially around moderation and what is considered too extreme for TV but fit to be seen by young children and teens. Also, the discussions on sharenting and misinformation were quite horrifying; this is becoming an even greater issue with the rise in use of AI (as its increasingly difficult to tell the truth from lies and bad actors are creating deep fakes too). The response of platforms to remove harmful content was disappointing but not surprising as negative content tends to get more engagement than positive content. Overall, I came away from this book with the knowledge that we need to be cognisant of what we consume online, there is a need to monitor and guide children/ teens consumption of media and politicians need to be educated on current technology and its implications to enable them to better regulate its use.
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Bluebird in exchange for a free and honest review.
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Bluebird in exchange for a free and honest review.
July 8, 2025
Smartphone Nation delivers on the promise in its subtitle ("Why We're All Addicted to Screens and What You Can Do About It"). While much of this book explores the impact of smartphone use on children, there are plenty of takeaways for adults as well.
Regehr's approach isn't anti-technology or anti-smartphone—it's pro-digital literacy. She offers a balanced and accessible overview of how social media platforms are intentionally designed to capture our attention and generate profit, often in the absence of meaningful regulation. Rather than sounding alarmist, she equips readers with tools to reflect on their own usage and leaves them with clear, actionable strategies to make meaningful change, both individually and collectively.
This was a thought-provoking and insightful read. It challenged my own habits (my phone is now temporarily on greyscale) and offered practical ways to foster healthier digital use. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in digital wellness or concerned about the ever-present influence of screens in modern life. Publication Date: August 12, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Regehr's approach isn't anti-technology or anti-smartphone—it's pro-digital literacy. She offers a balanced and accessible overview of how social media platforms are intentionally designed to capture our attention and generate profit, often in the absence of meaningful regulation. Rather than sounding alarmist, she equips readers with tools to reflect on their own usage and leaves them with clear, actionable strategies to make meaningful change, both individually and collectively.
This was a thought-provoking and insightful read. It challenged my own habits (my phone is now temporarily on greyscale) and offered practical ways to foster healthier digital use. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in digital wellness or concerned about the ever-present influence of screens in modern life. Publication Date: August 12, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.
May 26, 2025
As someone who has a shameful screen-time record, I was very intrigued by this non-fiction when I spotted it on NetGalley. Dr. Regehr delves into how social media is set up to purposefully draw us in and keep our attention for their own profit.
One thing I really hadn't expected from this book was its focus on how parents can keep their children safe online. Whilst I think this is a really important topic, I'm not a parent myself and don't plan on being one so I wouldn't have picked this book up if I'd known this was the focus. The synopsis doesn't make it clear that this is such a core focus and I feel like it's doing the book a disservice as more parents would pick this up if they knew (and I wouldn't have!)
Separate from all the sections on kids, I did find Dr. Regehr's research into this topic really interesting and whilst not surprising having it laid out in black and white did make me truly think about my usage and why exactly I'm online so often.
This book is definitely being mis-marketed, but I did enjoy the 20% that was relevant to me (and maybe I should try and treat myself like a child over my internet usage!)
One thing I really hadn't expected from this book was its focus on how parents can keep their children safe online. Whilst I think this is a really important topic, I'm not a parent myself and don't plan on being one so I wouldn't have picked this book up if I'd known this was the focus. The synopsis doesn't make it clear that this is such a core focus and I feel like it's doing the book a disservice as more parents would pick this up if they knew (and I wouldn't have!)
Separate from all the sections on kids, I did find Dr. Regehr's research into this topic really interesting and whilst not surprising having it laid out in black and white did make me truly think about my usage and why exactly I'm online so often.
This book is definitely being mis-marketed, but I did enjoy the 20% that was relevant to me (and maybe I should try and treat myself like a child over my internet usage!)
November 16, 2025
There is a lot in this book that will be incredibly useful for parents but there was a lot in it for an oldie like me too. I think it’s important that we all educate ourselves about the benefits and damage that smartphones bring. Ms Regehr goes into detail about algorithms and the intentions of the large companies. There is a lot of money in our data and we need to be more aware of what’s happening with it.
A big positive of this book is the advice it gives on how to protect ourselves and our youngsters. There are heartbreaking stories of suicide, and the impact of pornography on our society, and the way young people cannot ever really escape social media. But the author isn’t anti technology. Far from it, she just wants us being conscious of our use and its impact on us.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
A big positive of this book is the advice it gives on how to protect ourselves and our youngsters. There are heartbreaking stories of suicide, and the impact of pornography on our society, and the way young people cannot ever really escape social media. But the author isn’t anti technology. Far from it, she just wants us being conscious of our use and its impact on us.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
February 3, 2026
Well informed, well enganging with the reader. The main audience clearly being parents giving a step by step guide and information pack on how to help themselves and their children negative a relatively unregulated online world.
This book very greatly helps people to understand and what to look in their digital usage. How to reduce this down or replace it with something more postive or thought-provoking within social media that makes conversation in their familities.
Despite not being a parent myself, i have learnt how to keep "regular digital check ins" with my parents or family members, discuss the effects of "echo chambers", how to "choose to take greater control". Her suggestions are not a "must to" guide but a supportive informative guide that gives the read bodily automy to decide whether this book will help them.
Overall i will recommend this book to my friends and family.
This book very greatly helps people to understand and what to look in their digital usage. How to reduce this down or replace it with something more postive or thought-provoking within social media that makes conversation in their familities.
Despite not being a parent myself, i have learnt how to keep "regular digital check ins" with my parents or family members, discuss the effects of "echo chambers", how to "choose to take greater control". Her suggestions are not a "must to" guide but a supportive informative guide that gives the read bodily automy to decide whether this book will help them.
Overall i will recommend this book to my friends and family.
February 13, 2026
My thoughts
I listened to the audio version of this book, and the information provided really hit home as to how smart phones can really affect and influence our children's emotions, thoughts, and tigger anxieties and depression.
I found the section on pre-smart phone usage in the 80s very interesting where children had set times for terrestrial children's TV 📺 programmes which were purposely produced and vetted by media professionals to be broadcast suitable for the viewing of young children. You tube videos are not vetted and can lead to episodes of content that are not appropriate for our little ones.
Smartphones have changed our lives considerably. Would you say for the better or for the worse?
I think this is a fantastic, insightful book that should be read by everyone old and young alike. Especially if you are a parent.
Protect your children 🙏 ❤️
I listened to the audio version of this book, and the information provided really hit home as to how smart phones can really affect and influence our children's emotions, thoughts, and tigger anxieties and depression.
I found the section on pre-smart phone usage in the 80s very interesting where children had set times for terrestrial children's TV 📺 programmes which were purposely produced and vetted by media professionals to be broadcast suitable for the viewing of young children. You tube videos are not vetted and can lead to episodes of content that are not appropriate for our little ones.
Smartphones have changed our lives considerably. Would you say for the better or for the worse?
I think this is a fantastic, insightful book that should be read by everyone old and young alike. Especially if you are a parent.
Protect your children 🙏 ❤️
March 22, 2026
It's hard for me to rate this book fairly. Personally, I would have given it 2 ⭐️, if not lower. However, there's a catch. I am not the intended audience. I am in my 20s, have no kids, and have used a smartphone since at least secondary school.
I have no doubt that this book may be useful for parents, but that is not how I interpreted it from its description. I (as many other reviewers) was under the impression that we would touch on kids' phone use and that it would be part of the story, not the full story. I expected a bit more on social media mechanisms, statistics, and even examples of young influencers.
Unfortunately, I was quite bored and finished it for the sake of finishing, rather than getting value. I will keep the review at 3 ⭐️ to avoid sinking it too low, as it could be useful to the right audience.
I have no doubt that this book may be useful for parents, but that is not how I interpreted it from its description. I (as many other reviewers) was under the impression that we would touch on kids' phone use and that it would be part of the story, not the full story. I expected a bit more on social media mechanisms, statistics, and even examples of young influencers.
Unfortunately, I was quite bored and finished it for the sake of finishing, rather than getting value. I will keep the review at 3 ⭐️ to avoid sinking it too low, as it could be useful to the right audience.
July 16, 2025
czytając ostatnio książkę o skrajnej prawicy natknęłam się na informację, że wielu osobom algorytm mediów społecznościowych podsunął takie treści i to częściowo spowodowało ich radykalizację. czytałam już kilka książek o tym dlaczego tak działają algorytmy i chciałam przeczytać książkę, która przedstawi historię prób zmian algorytmów mediów, ich regulacji prawnej i o tym, jak zdrowo używać mediów społecznościowych. książka "smartphone nation" opowiada o wszystkich tych rzeczach, ale skupia się głównie na rodzicach i budowaniu zdrowej relacji z internetem przez ich dzieci ale mimo tego była dla mnie bardzo interesująca i doceniam, że było w niej dużo fajnych zasobów dla rodziców, więc polecam wszystkim osobom, opiekującymi się małymi człowieczkami.
October 6, 2025
was this book worth 36 bucks (granted I bought it in an airport)? no.
The writing on the front and back is very misleading, it didn't solve any of my problems (again, granted the only thing that would, would be to just get rid of my phone). but it promised alot and didn't really deliver.
there was alot of interesting discussions about the legality and history of the issue of technology. but not a whole lot of insightful points that made me think beyond the opinion I already have.
I believe if this book was marketed differently, maybe towards a more of a insight as to the mechanism of social media, then really focused on it, then this book would be good.
i can see the objective and message behind the book, but could have been done in a much better way.
missed opportunity
The writing on the front and back is very misleading, it didn't solve any of my problems (again, granted the only thing that would, would be to just get rid of my phone). but it promised alot and didn't really deliver.
there was alot of interesting discussions about the legality and history of the issue of technology. but not a whole lot of insightful points that made me think beyond the opinion I already have.
I believe if this book was marketed differently, maybe towards a more of a insight as to the mechanism of social media, then really focused on it, then this book would be good.
i can see the objective and message behind the book, but could have been done in a much better way.
missed opportunity
May 28, 2025
‘Why we’re all addicted to screens and what you can do about it’ is the subtitle and that’s pretty much exactly what Smartphone Nation delivers. UCL academic Kaitlyn Regehr knows what she’s talking about and a lot of it is quite scary. However, she explains the mechanisms behind social media, the commercial structures and the regulatory environment, such as it is, clearly and, drawing on a wide range of research, discusses the impact of smartphones, particularly on younger users. Although it’s perhaps particularly relevant reading for parents, this is important stuff and it’s a call to action for us all. We should take it seriously.
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