A U.K. couple started with a simple message, asking on Instagram if other parents could ban together to start a smartphone-free childhood. It's now grown to a global movement, with a chapter in 39 countries. Leigh Kiniry reports.

London

A grassroots campaign initiated by British parents Daisy Greenwell and Joe Ryrie is advocating for a smartphone-free childhood, encouraging families to delay giving smartphones to children until at least age 14 and social media access until 16. The movement began with a viral Instagram post and has since expanded globally, with chapters in 39 countries and over 160,000 parents signing a pledge to participate.

The campaign emphasizes that it is not anti-technology, but rather pro-childhood, aiming to protect young people from potential mental health issues linked to early smartphone use. Alternatives such as basic 'dumb phones' are promoted, and the initiative seeks to reduce peer pressure by encouraging groups of families to delay smartphone adoption together.

Couple starts movement to give kids a smartphone-free childhood

Lee Kaniri is in London to tell us about this desire to disconnect campaign that is going on there. Lee, good morning. Good morning. British officials have no plans to implement a social media ban here, but people are taking regulation into their own hands in a global movement that started with just a few worried parents right here. Knowing how to be with yourself. Freedom for parents Daisy Greenwell and Joe Ryrie means looking up here instead of down on their phones. How old were your kids when they first asked for a phone? I guess when the kids in my daughter's class started getting phones, they were eight. She was eight? Eight years old. Greenwell was alarmed facing a growing body of research suggesting smartphone use damages mental health in young people. So she posted on Instagram asking what if we could switch the norm and unite for a smartphone free childhood. That post went viral and thousands of parents joined the group overnight and within a couple of weeks there were smartphone free childhood groups in every county. Join us in this global movement. A year later the grassroots campaign had gone global with a chapter in 39 countries. Hey kiddo. Including in America where this cautionary ad was made. There's a box in the corner over there with all the pornographic material that's ever been made in the world. I'm trusting you not to look in there, okay? The group asks parents to sign a pact to delay getting your child a smartphone until at least 14 and social media until 16. This isn't an anti-tech movement. This is a pro-childhood movement. We're not saying no smartphones ever. We're not saying no tech ever. We're not saying no internet ever. We're just saying children don't need unrestricted access to the internet in their pocket 24-7 when they're young. What do you say to the working moms or dads who really don't have time with their kids to be present in the weeknight and maybe that's why they think they need to give them a smartphone. What do you say to them? Yeah, it's really tough. Delaying the smartphone is free. It's simple and it's a really effective way to give your child the best chance to thrive. An alternative way. So-called dumb phones. I needed to make a change and I did. I went the nuclear route and I got a dumb phone. Sales of phones without internet are up a hundred and fifty percent among Gen Z. But still in the UK one in four seven-year-olds owns a smartphone. How are you changing that norm? So if your child then knows, okay I've got five other kids, ten other kids in my class who are delaying smartphones for a few more years and that peer pressure dissolves. Just makes it a lot easier for families to say, okay, we're gonna just wait a few more years. We're gonna get a brick phone in the meantime. It's not that hard. We can do this. Together, getting kids offline. And that parent pact that Daisy and Joe's group organized has over a hundred and sixty thousand signatures. Those are parents that have committed to keep smartphones away from their kids until at least 14. Nate? I love this idea, Lee. Thank you.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is commenting on potential elections in Ukraine under certain conditions. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins CBS News with more on the war against Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

A renewed outbreak of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has derailed a US-brokered peace agreement, with cross-border shelling and air raids forcing more than half a million civilians to flee their homes.

Bangkok

Border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia flares up again

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will not receive the Nobel Peace Prize in person at Wednesday's award ceremony in Oslo, the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute said on Wednesday (December 10), with her current whereabouts unknown.

Caracas

Machado will not receive peace prize in person, Nobel Institute says

U.S. immigration agents used pepper spray against protesters in Minneapolis on Tuesday as residents blocked the officers’ vehicles and forced them to leave the area.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis protests erupt over ICE operation targeting Somalis

In Australia, millions of kids' social media profiles are going dark, as the country's new social media ban takes effect for anyone under 16. Jo Ling Kent reports.

Canberra

Australia's social media ban takes effect for kids under 16

President Trump, in recent months, has dismissed concerns about affordability, but this evening, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, he is focusing on the crisis and touting his administration's efforts to lower the cost of living. Nancy Cordes has more.

Pennsylvania

Trump tries to flip the script on affordability

Dozens of protesters blocked a highway near Tel Aviv to demonstrate against moves by the Israeli government to force some ultra-Orthodox Jews into mandatory military service, something they are currently exempt from so they can study the Torah full time.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Bill over ultra-Orthodox military conscription sparks protests in Israel

President Trump has told Politico that Nicolas Maduro's "days are numbered" in Venezuela. Political strategists Kevin Sheridan and Hyma Moore join with analysis.

Washington

Trump says Maduro’s “days are numbered”

The FBI has released a new photo of former Olympian Ryan Wedding, whom the bureau’s director has described as a “modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar.” The ex-skier and snowboarder remains at large as agents continue their search.

FBI releases new photo of alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday (December 9), meanwhile voicing his refusal to surrender territory to Moscow despite pressure from Washington for territorial concessions.

Rome

Zelenskyy seeks backing from Pope Leo XIV, Italian PM Meloni

A federal judge said Tuesday (December 9) that the Department of Justice can unseal the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more details.

Judge says DOJ can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell trafficking case records

Prosecutors on Monday (December 8) released new evidence seized from Luigi Mangione on the day of his arrest. He is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a year ago and has pleaded not guilty.

Manhattan

New evidence introduced in Luigi Mangione case

The EU antitrust enforcer has opened an investigation into the U.S. tech giant over its use of online content to power its AI services, a move that threatens to ratchet up transatlantic relations.

Brussels

EU Commission opens probe into Google over AI

The U.S. government said the approval, which comes in exchange for a 25% surcharge, would also be available to other chipmakers like Intel and AMD.

Trump gives Nvidia green light to sell H200 chips to China

Ukraine is set to present a revised peace plan to the United States on Tuesday following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s talks in London with the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain.

Ukraine to share revised peace plan with U.S., Zelenskiy says

The International Criminal Court Tuesday handed down a sentence of 20 years to a Sudanese militia leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war two decades ago.

ICC sentences Sudan militia chief for crimes against humanity

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (December 8) unveiled a $12 billion aid package for American farmers, the latest government effort to shore up a key political constituency hurt by the financial fallout from his trade policies.

Trump unveils $12 billion aid package for farmers hit by trade war

Thailand and Cambodia are blaming one another for starting a deadly exchange of fire that killed at least five people and threatens to unravel a U.S.-backed ceasefire between the neighbouring southeast Asian countries.

Surin

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire could be unravelling

Paramount Skydance made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery for $108 billion US just days after Netflix announced it made a $72-billion US deal with the legacy studio. It’s a move that even has U.S. President Donald Trump weighing in.

Hollywood

Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

President Trump announced Monday he will allow Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 computer chips to "approved customers" in China, but Mr. Trump said the deal does not include Nvidia's more advanced Blackwell system or its soon-to-be-released Rubin system.

Trump says he's letting Nvidia sell some AI chips to China

Ukraine's European allies put on a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday as they expressed scepticism about parts of the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia. The discussions came after President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of not reading his administration's proposal on a deal to end Russia's invasion following almost four years of war.

Downing Street

European allies back Zelensky after Trump criticism

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan late on Monday (December 8), prompting orders for about 90,000 residents to evacuate and tsunami warnings that hours later were downgraded to advisories.

Aomori

7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's northeast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday (December 8) that unity between Europe, Ukraine and the U.S. was important when negotiating an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. He made the remark during a visit to London.

Kyiv stresses European unity as allies 'skeptical' of U.S. peace plan

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies prepared to hold talks in London on Monday (December 8), after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy to meet European allies after Trump criticism

Thailand has launched airstrikes on Cambodian military sites as renewed border violence threatens a U.S.-backed peace deal.

Renewed border violence threatens Thai-Cambodia peace

South African authorities have withdrawn a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, saying the recent arrival of a charter flight with 153 people onboard was part of a campaign of “forced migration.”

Johannesburg

Middle East Conflict

South Africa withdraws 90-days visa exemption for Palestinians

Chinese and Japanese ties came under further strain after a Chinese fighter aircraft trained fire-control radar on Japanese military jets for the first time.

Okinawa

Chinese fighter jet locks radar on Japan planes

A military coup declared in Benin on Sunday has failed, the country’s interior minister said, just hours after soldiers took over state television to announce the dissolution of government.

Porto-Novo

Benin coup attempt thwarted by soldiers loyal to Republic

Hong Kong's citizens were voting on Sunday in an election where the focus is on turnout, with residents grieving and traumatized after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years and the authorities scrambling to avoid a broader public backlash.

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong holds tightly guarded election amid anger over deadly fire

A U.S. envoy says territorial claims remain a sticking point in a proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S.-led meetings have ended; meanwhile, Russia launched a massive strike on central Ukraine early Sunday.

Breakdown