Kate Middleton is speaking out again, and this time she is tackling a topic that hits home for almost every parent. The Princess of Wales has spent years championing early childhood development through her Centre for Early Childhood. She aims to promote greater awareness of how the early years shape a child’s life.
Recently, she’s been in the headlines for her steady return to public life after battling cancer and her ongoing advocacy for families’ mental health. Now, she’s calling attention to something that affects nearly everyone: the way smartphones divide our attention.
Kate Middleton believes smartphones have no positive impact on family life
Kate wrote an essay with Harvard professor, Robert Waldinger. It was published on her Centre for Early Childhood website on Thursday, October 9. In it, she examines how technology affects families and relationships. She calls the issue an “epidemic of disconnection” and asserts that technology, while useful, also has serious downsides. She wrote, “While new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection.”
Kate explains that “our smartphones, tablets, and computers have become sources of constant distraction, fragmenting our focus and preventing us from giving others the undivided attention that relationships require.” She adds, “We sit together in the same room while our minds are scattered across dozens of apps, notifications, and feeds. We’re physically present but mentally absent.”
As a mom to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Kate says constant scrolling takes away “our undivided attention.” She writes, “When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners, or respond to emails while playing with our children, we’re not just being distracted; we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires.”
Recently, Prince William discussed the same topic during an interview with Eugene Levy on The Reluctant Traveler. “We sit and chat, it’s really important,” he said. He added that “none of our children have any phones,” and they’re “very strict” about it.
Overall, Kate’s essay highlights that the first years of life are crucial for brain development. She calls that stage “the golden opportunity to build strong foundations for future life outcomes.” She urges families to spend more time talking, sharing meals, and joining community activities.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH KATE ON THE IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME ON FAMILIES AND CONNECTION?
