What if giving your child a smartphone was the real horror story? That’s the chilling message behind Let’s Change The Norm, a new U.S. campaign by Smartphone Free Childhood US (SFCxUS).
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Directed by Tim Mason and produced by Tessa Films, the short film uses dark humor and horror tropes to highlight how early smartphone use exposes kids to cyberbullying, algorithmic pressure, and mental health struggles.
The spot flips the script: by rushing to equip their kids with phones, parents may be handing them adult-sized problems, without the manual.
The project comes from a place of urgency. Tessa Films producer Lisa Masseur, a mother of three, saw firsthand how screens fed her kids’ anxiety and isolation. Mason, a father of four, shot the spot in his own home with help from friends and volunteer young actors.
The message is clear: parents aren’t powerless, they can delay the first phone and reclaim childhood as a space for play, rest, and real-world connection.
Beyond the film, SFCxUS is building a movement for parents, by parents, encouraging families to share stories, support each other, and feel confident saying “no” a little longer. The campaign’s mix of style, smarts, and second-degree humor has already struck a nerve, and may inspire similar efforts worldwide.
