How Smartphones Affect Marriage and Relationships (and What Couples Can Do)
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Few couples say their phones ruined their marriage. But many say they feel ignored when a screen comes out at dinner, or that it's hard to be present at the end of the day.
Where phones cause friction
- Divided attention: conversations that keep getting interrupted
- Late-night scrolling: time that used to be shared
- Privacy and trust: disagreement about what's okay to look at or keep on a phone
- Different standards: one spouse wants fewer screens at home, the other doesn't
What couples can do
- Agree on phone-free times, such as meals and the first hour at home
- Charge phones outside the bedroom
- Talk about boundaries before there's a problem, not after
- Choose tools that make the agreed boundary easy to keep
Make the boundary structural
Promises depend on willpower, and willpower runs out. A Grow Phone is a real Samsung Galaxy smartphone with no unrestricted web browser or social media, so there's nothing to resist. You keep the apps you rely on, like maps, messaging, email and banking, and requests for new apps go through the Grow Control app. For pricing, Grow Control membership and app compatibility, see the Grow Phone page.
More: 5 reasons you need a filter on your phone and Grow Phones.