Withdrawing mobile phones as a punishment makes sense. Right?

Educational myth 2:

Withdrawing mobile phones as a punishment makes sense. Right?
Withdrawing mobile phones as a punishment makes sense. Right?

That's what the expert says:

«Parents should not use mobile phone withdrawal as a means of education and therefore not as a punishment - conversely, mobile phone use should not be a reward either. If a child constantly breaks the agreed rules for mobile phone use, the parents could take the device away for a short time - until a solution is found. On the whole, it is important to show young people how to use their smartphones sensibly. Quite apart from this, four fifths of teenagers have their Internet use under control. Just under 9 percent show problematic online behaviour and 12 percent show risky behaviour.»

Daniel Süss ist Professor ad personam für Mediensozialisation und Medienkompetenz an der Universität Zürich und Professor für Angewandte Psychologie an der Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften ZHAW.
Daniel Süss is Professor ad personam for Media Socialisation and Media Competence at the University of Zurich and Professor of Applied Psychology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW.

All parenting myths at a glance:

Parenting knowledge instead of parenting myths!
You can find all the myths in our dossier: 15 parenting myths

Read the answers to 15 parenting myths here:

  • Gute Noten sollte man mit Geld belohnen
  • Ein Kind mit viel Freiheiten wird verantwortungsvoller
  • Einzelkinder sind verwöhnt und können nicht teilen
  • Raufende Kinder werden kriminell
  • Wer mit seinen Kindern streitet macht sie streitsüchtig
  • Kindern sollte man nichts verbieten, da sie sonst zu kleinen Rebellen werden
  • Mit viel Spielzeug fühlt sich ein Kind geliebt
  • Scheidungskinder sind beziehungsunfähig
  • Trotzende Kinder brauchen härtere Erziehung
  • 13-Jährige kann man nicht mehr erziehen
  • Als Eltern sollte man auch beste Freunde seiner Kinder sein
  • Ab der 1. Klasse sollte ein Kind ein Smartphone erhalten
  • Früh geförderte Kinder werden erfolgreicher
  • Eine Ohrfeige hat noch keinem Kind geschadet

Diese Kampagne ist in Zusammenarbeit mit Jung von Matt entstanden.

"150 questions - 150 answers on parenting, family and school". In the 132-page guide, 51 experts have their say. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.
"150 questions - 150 answers on education, family and school".
The 132-page guidebook features 51 experts. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.

More educational knowledge about mobile phones:

  • 11 questions about media consumption
    Can I track my child via GPS? Is withdrawal of a mobile phone a good punishment? Experts answer these and other questions in our large dossier on the topic of media and media consumption.
  • «Reducing media time is not the solution»
    For media psychologist Daniel Süss, screen time is of secondary importance as long as a child can fulfil all their needs and develop their skills. The Zurich-based researcher talks about high media consumption during lockdown, the link between media and creativity and nasty stunts on Tiktok.
  • Mobile phones and the like: what parents should know
    Media educator Michèle Brogle is the mother of two boys aged 11 and 8. She visits school classes and organises workshops with parents and children on the use of mobile phones, tablets and PCs. The qualified teacher talks about safety settings, mobile phone withdrawal as a punishment and age-appropriate rules.
  • Digital native versus digital naive
    Our dad blogger Andreas B. is born into the world. Or rather, the world of mobile phones, when he wants to confiscate his daughter's mobile phone ...