If there’s one thing Millennials and Gen Z parents know, it’s that growing up in the digital age came with some… let’s call them lessons learned. This was the generation that got unrestricted access to the internet, discovered the horrors of MySpace top friends, and had to teach their parents how to reset the Wi-Fi. Now that they’re raising kids of their own, they’re taking a different approach—one that doesn’t just hand over a device and hope for the best.
Unlike their own parents, who were navigating uncharted digital territory, today’s young parents are hyper-aware of tech’s impact. They were the first to experience social media’s highs and lows, and they’re not about to let their kids make the same mistakes they did (looking at you, cringey middle school Facebook posts). Instead of a free-for-all approach to technology, they’re choosing something more intentional. That means delaying smartphone ownership, limiting screen time, and ensuring that kids aren’t accidentally giving Silicon Valley companies a full data profile before they even hit their teens. The days of “just let them play on the iPad” are fading, replaced by active decision-making about what tech is being used and why.
But don’t mistake this for a complete rejection of screens. These parents aren’t anti-tech; they’re just choosing smarter tech. Instead of tossing a smartphone into their kid’s backpack and hoping for the best, they’re opting for safer alternatives that allow for communication without all the noise of social media, infinite scrolling, and addictive apps. That’s exactly why a device like Pinwheel exists—to give kids the tools they need to stay connected while keeping parents in the driver’s seat. It’s not about saying no to technology. It’s about saying yes—to the right kind of technology.
And when it comes to social media? Let’s just say these parents are skeptical. Millennials know what it’s like to have every regrettable outfit choice documented on the internet forever. Gen Z grew up watching influencers curate picture-perfect lives that didn’t always match reality.
Now, they’re setting stricter boundaries, delaying social media access, and making sure their kids don’t feel like their worth is measured in likes and followers.
Ultimately, Millennials and Gen Z parents are rewriting the tech rulebook—not by banning technology, but by making sure it works for their families, not against them. And if their kids think they’re being too strict? Well, they can go journal about it—just like their parents did before Twitter threads were a thing.
Want to give your kid a phone that actually makes sense for their age? Check out Pinwheel, where smartphones are designed with kids in mind—because raising digital natives shouldn’t mean raising digital dependents.