I thought to write this article for two reasons: first in response to all the talk about digital detoxification by schools in Europe. Secondly, because all the people who believe that going back to physical paper is actually good for children. I disagree with both. And if you want to rebuild your iPad workflow for deep focus and real productivity, we can help.
A phone is not a productivity device
But before we dive deep into this, let’s address the elephant in the room. A phone has never been a productivity device, and getting one for a child to use for school doesn’t make sense. That is why we focus on digital productivity on the iPad, and Mac, at Paperless X. So, all this talk about cutting screen time is mostly for phones, not tablets and I think that is the most annoying part for me.
Let’s not bracket every technology under one umbrella. Because we don’t see people glued to their laptops on the street, or massive tablets either. No, the device that’s causing all these problems is far much smaller and portable. It can fit in your pocket, go under your pillow at night, and even be with you in the shower.
I’ve talked about how my husband and I use the same phone. But what I didn’t mention back then is that we can’t even share the same iPad or Mac. Because we each need them for work. The phone, on the other hand, is not something meant to be productive on. So, it can be shared like phones have always been: a family thing.
The only reason we can share a phone is because both of us don’t have any social media apps. We don’t even have social media accounts. I don’t have TikTok or Instagram. My facebook is for work, so is his. No Twitter (X), or Threads either (even for work, I shut those down). For a digital productivity brand, they just never worked out for me.
Now, what do you think is going to happen if you chuck a five year old in front of a tiny screen? I don’t even know in what world that would make sense. Even getting a teenager a phone, what purpose does that serve? As technologically inclined as I always have been; I officially got my first phone after I turned 18. Only because I was studying abroad, and need to communicate with my parents. That’s what a phone is for. Not instagram, or TikTok
The conversation on digital health
On a different note: I am happy that we’re starting to have a conversation about this. Governments are now willing to take a more active approach towards digital health and responsibility. But, that also needs to be done right. Don’t ban all technology in the classrooms, only the distractive ones. I mean, who really wants to watch TikTok videos on a 12 inch tablet?
I also like the initiative by doctor Imran Rashid to ban social networks for under 15s. But, I would personally just put it a little different: those who are not old enough to vote shouldn’t own a mobile phone. Not only will that be a massive financial relief for their parents, it’ll actually do them a lot of good. Because, what are you using a phone for at that age any way? What am I missing?
Then about text books
Here’s where I want to bring the textbook conversation back in. I don’t hate physical books. I don’t hate paper. Well, maybe a little… So, I do think some schools run in the wrong direction when they treat paper as the cure and digital as the disease. The truth is, paper doesn’t fix distraction. We had that even before phones. Strong boundaries fix distraction. Clear rules fix distraction, and parents making hard choices fixes distraction.
Our real problem is not digital
Schools can absolutely use physical textbooks where they make sense. But they can also use tablets, laptops, and structured digital tools to support learning, research, creativity, and accessibility. The issue never starts with “digital”. It started with our “unrestricted phone culture”. That turned a family communication device into a personal possession no one else can touch. And if we keep treating tablets and computers like phones, we’ll keep fighting the wrong battle.
A penny for your thoughts
Let’s pause here and continue in the next episode, because i don’t want to rush this conversation. In the meantime, I want to hear your thoughts. Do you agree that phones sit at the centre of this problem, not technology as a whole? Do you think voting age should be linked to phone ownership? And how do you feel about schools returning to physical textbooks?
