What Is Wait Until 8th? How the Smartphone Pledge Works

Updated 2026-11-10 · By the Touch Grass editors

Quick answer

Wait Until 8th is a parent-led pledge to not give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. It activates once 10 families from the same grade and school sign, and then those families are connected. Basic phones that only call and text, and calling smartwatches, are allowed under the pledge.

If another parent has mentioned "the pledge" at pickup, they probably mean Wait Until 8th. It's a way for families in the same grade to agree to hold off on smartphones together, so no one kid is the only one without.

Here's what it is, how it works step by step, and what it does and doesn't ask of you. Everything below comes from the organization's own website.

What is the Wait Until 8th pledge?

Wait Until 8th is a pledge parents sign promising not to give their child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade, as long as at least 10 families from the same grade and school also sign. The pledge wording is: "By signing this pledge, you promise not to give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade."

The organization was founded by Brooke Shannon, who is its executive director and lives in Austin. Its website says more than 155,000 parents have signed.

How does the 10-family rule work?

Your pledge only becomes active once 10 families from your child's grade and school have signed. Until then, it stays anonymous and no one is contacted.

You sign online with your child's current school, next school (or "TBD") and grade. Kindergarten and up can be entered.
The site counts signatures by school and grade.
When your grade reaches 10 families, the pledge activates.
Everyone who signed is notified and gets a list of the other families in that grade who are delaying, with their email addresses.

Sharing contacts is how the pledge connects the families in a grade. The FAQ says your information is shown only to parents from the same grade and school, and states: "We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization."

Can my kid have a phone at all under Wait Until 8th?

Yes. The pledge covers smartphones only. The pledge page says: "If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you still can sign the pledge!"

Its FAQ defines a smartphone as a phone that can reach an internet browser and an app store. Calling smartwatches are allowed too, though the FAQ suggests turning off notifications during school and blocking app downloads.

The site's Smartphone Alternatives page lists options including Tin Can, Pinwheel and a few calling watches and basic phones. It says those are affiliate links and that a portion of some sales supports the organization.

Which devices fit the pledge?

Anything without a browser or open app store fits the pledge's definition. A few examples from our own guides:

Kids' landlines: Tin Can and Pinwheel Home are voice-only and run over Wi-Fi. See best kids' landlines.
Calling watches: the Gabb Watch 3e has no browser or social media. See kids' smartwatches without internet.
No-internet phones: the Gabb Phone 4 has no browser, no app store and no social media, with apps only from a parent-approved library.

Some kids' phones, like Bark Phone and Troomi, start as talk and text but can unlock more features later. Whether a given setup fits the spirit of the pledge is your call. Check it against the pledge's definition.

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Gabb Watch 3e

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Why 8th grade?

The organization says it chose the end of 8th grade as a realistic line communities can rally around, one that covers elementary and middle school. Its FAQ also says families can reassess together after 8th grade, and some may choose to wait longer. It separately recommends waiting until 16 for social media.

The site's "Why Wait?" page lays out the organization's full reasoning, including the concerns it raises about sleep, school and mental health, if you want to read its case in its own words.

What happens after you sign?

Not much, until your grade hits 10 families. A few practical details from the FAQ:

One parent per household signs. Both signing creates duplicates.
You don't re-sign each year. Pledges move up one grade automatically on July 1.
If your child changes schools, the pledge follows the next school listed on your form.
The pledge itself isn't posted publicly.

We didn't see any fee mentioned on the pledge page.

Is Wait Until 8th right for your family?

That depends on your kid, your schedule and your community. There's no wrong answer here. Some things to weigh:

It works best with company. The pledge only activates with 10 families in your grade, so its value depends on your school.
It still leaves room for a phone. If your kid needs to reach you, a basic phone, landline or calling watch fits.
It's a promise among parents. The pledge is something you agree to alongside other families in your grade.
You can delay without signing. Some families make the same choice on their own, or with a few friends.

If you're planning a first device either way, our guide to a first phone without a smartphone walks through it step by step.

Frequently asked questions

What does Wait Until 8th mean?

It's a parent pledge to not give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. The pledge activates when 10 families from the same grade and school sign.

Can my child have a phone if I sign Wait Until 8th?

Yes, as long as it isn't a smartphone. The pledge allows basic phones that call and text, and calling smartwatches.

What happens if 10 families don't sign?

Your pledge stays anonymous and inactive, and no group email is sent. It activates if and when your grade reaches 10 families.

Do both parents need to sign the pledge?

No. One parent per household is enough. The organization says two signatures from one household create duplicates.

Do I have to re-sign every year?

No. Pledges move up a grade automatically on July 1.

Is Wait Until 8th only in the United States?

Yes. Its FAQ lists similar groups in Canada, Australia, Mexico, Sweden and the UK.

Who started Wait Until 8th?

Brooke Shannon, the organization's founder and executive director, who lives in Austin.

Sources

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