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Parents urge Reno Council to promote 'Wait Until Eighth' pledge to delay smartphones for children

Reno City Council · December 10, 2025
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Summary

Parents and local organizers asked the Reno City Council to help promote a 'Wait Until Eighth' pledge that encourages families to delay giving children smartphones until the end of eighth grade, citing research linking early smartphone use to anxiety, depression and sleep disruption.

Larissa Viner, a registered school nurse and Reno resident, asked the council Dec. 10 to help the local 'Wait Until Eighth' effort that urges families to delay handing children smartphones until at least the end of eighth grade. "Early smartphone and social media exposure carries real risks," Viner told the council, citing national research on links between social-media use and increased anxiety, depression and sleep disruption.

Brandy Vesco, a parent and former education reporter who co-founded Wait Until Eighth Reno–Sparks, described the local campaign's outreach and early enrollment. Vesco said she contacted principals at all 66 traditional elementary schools; 15 agreed to share pledge materials, about five said they were considering it, and the remainder had not yet replied. She told the council the pledge uses community cohorts so families can sign up together, and reported that Washoe County pledge totals rose from 27 to 81 in about a month.

Council members asked about the movement's materials and offered to connect organizers with neighborhood advisory boards and city communications channels. Vesco provided two websites — waituntil8.org for the national pledge and a local Instagram presence to track pledges by school — and said the pledge is intentionally limited to smartphones while allowing for basic phones or limited-feature smartwatches.

The request to the council at the Dec. 10 meeting was not a legislative action; speakers asked only for help amplifying the pledge and for the city to share educational resources. Council members praised the organizers and indicated staff follow-up on outreach and communications opportunities.