What My 19-Year-Old Learned Growing Up Without Social Media with Noelle Pellicane

Arlene's children were not allowed to have social media, play video games, or have personal phones or tablets until their senior year of high school. What did the kids think about this???

Noelle (the middle child of three) is here to represent the kids! Was she left out of friend groups at school because she wasn't on social media? Did she struggle with anxiety as a result?

Noelle addresses common concerns parents raise, including whether kids need phones to stay connected with friends, whether delaying phone access affects academic performance, and whether it leaves children unprepared once they leave home. She describes how her parents explained their reasoning rather than simply withholding technology, and how that shaped the boundaries she set for herself once she did get a phone. Noelle also discusses her current use of AI as an engineering student at Oral Roberts University, and how her faith shapes how she spends her time.

Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families is available for FREE while supplies last. Request your copy at TechResetBook.com and begin your do-over with screen time. 

02:19 — Noelle introduces herself: senior year at Oral Roberts University, mechanical engineering

03:15 — What she actually did as a kid without video games, tablets, or cable

05:21 — Addressing the myth that kids need phones to stay connected with friends

09:05 — The "time pit" and what she avoided seeing online — comparison, body image, bad news

12:33 — Phone use in the classroom and its effect on attention span

16:04 — Why she didn't "go crazy" once she finally got a phone senior year

18:11 — Her deliberate process for delaying social media after getting a phone

22:47 — How going without a phone gave her more freedom, not less

29:19 — Balancing being a "tech optimist" and AI enthusiast with caution about addictive technology

 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families (free while supplies last!) 

Check out Noelle's art on Instagram 

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's other BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email speaking@arlenepellicane.com

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

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