Inside an Irish town raising kids without smartphones

Overlooking the Irish Sea just south of Dublin, Greystones is one of Ireland's most affluent and scenic towns. Its coastal views, independent shops and tight-knit community have made it one of the most desirable places to live in the country. In recent years, Greystones has also become known for something else: Raising children without smartphones . At a local youth cafe last month, CBS News asked a room of 11- and 12-year-olds if they owned smartphones, and not a single hand went up. "My mom probably won't let me till I'm 22," quipped a girl named Sienna, drawing giggles from her classmates. "My Mum told me scientists did this brain scan," chimed in a boy named Sam. "It's the same brain as people — they're thinking the same thing if they're scrolling and drinking alcohol." Children from Greystones, Ireland, who are growing up without smartphones, speak with CBS News' Leigh Kiniry about their experience. CBS News Rachel Harper, a principal at St. Patrick's National School, where the kids CBS News met are students, said she noticed a worrying trend three years ago after the return to in-person classes following the COVID-19 pandemic . "I noticed an increase in anxiety levels in my school," she told CBS News. Harper organized a community-wide survey, drawing 800 responses from educators across the town. The results were striking, with 95% of teachers reporting heightened anxiety in their classrooms. …