Resources
Why kids need something better
Every number on our homepage comes from one of the sources below. We've also gathered the most helpful guides we found for parents figuring out phones and social media. Each link opens the original page.
The research Sources for our stats
Where our numbers come from: kids getting phones younger, kids on social media before 13, and parents asking for stronger limits.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health
The nation's top doctor warns that social media can pose a "profound risk of harm" to kids. Nearly 40% of kids ages 8 to 12 already use it.
Read the advisory (PDF) Pew Research Center · 2025How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids
A national survey of parents of kids 12 and under: who has a phone at what age, and which apps they use. For example, 37% of parents of 11- and 12-year-olds say their kid uses TikTok.
Read the report Pew Research Center · 2026Most Americans Support Banning Social Media for Kids Under 16
65% of parents back an under-16 ban, and 85% of Americans want parental consent before a minor opens an account.
Read the findings Common Sense Media · 2019Tweens, Teens, and Phones
More than half of kids have their own smartphone by age 11, and 69% have one by 12.
Read the research eSafety Commissioner, Australia · 2025Social Media Age Restrictions
How Australia became the first country to require that kids be 16 to hold a social media account, starting December 2025.
See the rulesWhat the experts recommend
Pediatricians and psychologists agree on the basics: start slow, match it to the child's age, keep a grown-up involved, and teach social media skills before the big apps. That's what Blockhood is built to do.
Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence
Ten recommendations, including that kids learn social media skills before they start, and that use is matched to their age and maturity.
Read the advisory American Academy of PediatricsCenter of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
The pediatricians' hub for research-backed answers about kids, teens and social media, with Q&As for families.
Visit the centerHelpful tools for parents
Practical things you can use at home tonight.
Family Media Plan
A free tool to make your family's own rules for screens: when, where, how much, and what's off-limits.
Make a plan Common Sense MediaParents' Ultimate Guide to First Phones
How to tell if your kid is ready, options besides a smartphone, family phone agreements, and the settings to turn on.
Read the guide Federal Trade CommissionCOPPA: Tips to Keep Your Child Safe Online
What the children's privacy law (COPPA) requires of apps for kids under 13, and how to protect your child's personal information.
Read the tipsA note from us: Blockhood isn't affiliated with any of these organizations. We share their work because it shaped what we're building. Know a great resource we should add? Email stri9437@gmail.com.