Dodgers Delay Newsletter

Spring 2026

Over the past year and a half we have connected with so many members of our own community here in Madison. We have also connected with like-minded groups from other surrounding towns and have helped other communities launch their own groups. Recently, we met (in person!) with parent groups from Montclair, New Providence, and South Orange/Maplewood to share resources. We are so encouraged that so many New Jersey parents are motivated to collectively create safe digital spaces for our children, and we look forward to building this partnership.

On a larger scale, it is so important that we are all informed of two recent landmark verdicts. In Los Angeles, a jury found that Meta and YouTube were aware of physical and mental health dangers to children using the platforms, as well as its addicting qualities, but continued to encourage its use to minors. In New Mexico, a jury found that Meta knowingly contributed to mental health harm to its users, and concealed child sexual exploitation on its platform. Meta Harms Children's Mental Health and Safety, Find both Los Angeles and New Mexico Juries. As parents we must pay attention and protect our children, knowing Meta is NOT.

Please share and continue to spread the word so that as a community we can DELAY together!

DELAY access to fully-loaded smartphones

DELAY access to social media

DELAY unfettered access to the internet

For more info, visit our new website www.dodgersdelay.com or email us at dodgersdelay@gmail.com.

Way to go, Madison Junior School, on a successful Analog Day! What a BIG way to disconnect and reconnect - it definitely created great dialogue about the subject of screen use, both at school and at home!

We are eagerly looking forward to Madison School District doing an ed tech audit to get an understanding of our children’s use of their school issued devices, both in the classrooms and at home. Then, we hope there can be a shift from using ed tech to teach, to teaching students how to use technology successfully and effectively. If this is something you support, please let our school administrators and board members know!

Recently we shared with our district administrators and Board of Education members changes that are being made for the next calendar year in South Orange-Maplewood School District.

Changes being made in SOMA include:

-eliminating 1:1 devices at the elementary level - instead using classroom carts when Chromebooks are needed in the classroom

-no Chromebook use during lunch and indoor recess

-restricting YouTube for elementary students, and only allowing internet sites essential to curriculum in the middle school

-parental control features for Chromebooks for when devices are taken home

-cursive instruction in grades 3-5

“The extensive use of chromebooks during the school day has been such a struggle for us. We have amazing teachers and amazing resources - we do not have to be slaves to the chromebook investment. I know there are other parents out there who feel this way. I would love to see more parents advocating for our Madison Schools to re-think their reliance on chromebooks, and move towards a more balanced approach that focuses more on people and paper and pencils than on the tech.”

-Madison parent of 7th, 6th and 3rd graders

We’d love to hear from you! Please email us to share your story.

“Los Angeles becomes the first major school district to require screen time limits

The resolution followed pressure from parents who said their children developed unhealthy habits after schools required them to use iPads and laptops every day.”

-NBC News, April 21, 2026

“The "Teach Them Safer Use” Screen Myth: Why Harm Reduction Has No Place in Childhood

When it comes to kids and screens, the goal isn’t to manage harm. It’s to prevent exposure.”

-Be ScreenStrong by Melanie Hempe, April 2026