Yahoo Finance Live anchors discuss the "Wait Until 8th" pledge that encourages parents to delay their children's smartphone usage until they're in eighth grade or 14-years of age.

Video Transcript

RACHELLE AKUFFO: Well, from lost sleep to negative mental health impacts, the detriments of excessive phone use are well documented, which is why one Austin mother, Brooke Shannon, has started the Wait Until 8th pledge. Now, that asks parents to promise not to give their kids smartphones until they are at least 14 or in the eighth grade. Now, the group has been around for several years now and urges parents from schools around the country to really band together and take this pledge.

So, of course, we're all parents. I mean, I have my personal thoughts on this. I think it is kind of hard to have this sort of blanket thing about eighth grade. Kids have different levels of how responsible they are. You also have kids in different situations-- if your parents are divorced and they need to be able to reach them in case of emergencies. The excessive part, I do agree, we should be monitoring. But I don't necessarily think it should be for a specific grade. Seana, what do you think?

SEANA SMITH: Yes, I think it's easier. So compared to both of you, my children are the youngest. My oldest is three. So I have thought about this in the past, just in terms of ideally, yes, I would love not to give my sons an iPhone or some sort of smartphone until they are in high school. I think every parent would like to say that. I don't know how realistic that is. And especially when you look at the numbers and the number of kids who do have a smartphone before they are in eighth grade, it really shows that it is hard to kind of deter them and just say no. But I don't know. I like the idea of this pledge. I really, really do.

DAVE BRIGGS: Look, I like the idea of it. The practicality, no way, no chance, no how. Forget it. I wouldn't try it if I were you. I certainly did not. Now, the word "smartphone" is weird because kids don't need phones. They don't call. They don't make telephone calls. So all they need is an iPad or an iTouch without phone service, which my kids probably had one at age-- I don't know-- 5 or 6, quite frankly, because it's a great babysitter, man.

And if you're going to fly on an airplane, there is no way to get four or five, six hours across this country without a device. No, don't try it, parents. I really don't advise it. Plus, there is a lot you can learn on these things. It's all about moderation. It's about buying one of these devices that monitors their time so you can see how much they're on particular apps. My fifth grader has had a smartphone for years, but all she does is Wordle and then go back to reading, so--

SEANA SMITH: Well, yeah, and the moderation--

DAVE BRIGGS: It's up to the parents to manage it.

SEANA SMITH: Exactly, it's up to the parents to manage it. It's all about moderation because there clearly are safety concerns. And if there are parents out there who just give their children smartphones without monitoring that, clearly, that is a huge safety risk, Rachelle.

RACHELLE AKUFFO: No, I agree. I mean, my daughter has a phone, and she's nine. But it means that if the school bus is running late or something, I'm not panicking. I'm able to reach her. There's a safety issue. But again, it does follow the parents. You have to show your kid what responsible phone usage looks like. I mean, if you're zoned out all the time on your phone, you're not really setting a good example. So I think it's important to set a good example. My daughter has a few number of apps. Most are school related. I let her have Roblox on it because she does love it. But I do think it's about teaching your kids responsibility. It's not the thing itself. It's how you treat it.

SEANA SMITH: It is. I don't know. I have high hopes. I'm hoping that maybe I can give my sons a flip phone or something just to get to high school. You're looking at me like you don't think there's a chance. I don't know. I'm going to hold out.

RACHELLE AKUFFO: Get a beeper.

SEANA SMITH: Yeah, yeah, exactly, a beeper. Really throw it back there.

DAVE BRIGGS: They'll find it, man. You'll throw in the towel.

SEANA SMITH: I know. I'm sure I will.