Most kids live on their phones and social media. In fact, 78 percent of kids aged 12-17 have cells phones, and the average age to get one is about 10 years old. (Techcrunch.com)

Now imagine going almost the entire summer with a flip phone and no social media. That’s what I had to do this summer.

While I was at camp for two weeks, my mom went through my phone and found conversations and posts from friends she deemed negative and toxic for me. My dad agreed and so when I got back from camp, I got a flip phone. I was devastated, which looking back on it now was probably the wrong response. I only had a few friends that I texted on it, which helped me realize who my real friends were. They cared about me enough to text me instead of just giving up on Snapchat, where I usually can be reached very easily.

Most people would hate their parents for doing this, taking away their connection. And I did at first, but soon realized that they only did this because they loved me, and they wanted me to realize that I didn’t need social media as much as I thought I did. Through this experience I learned how to cut toxic people out of my life, and I like to think I’m a better person now because of it. So mom and dad, I’m sorry for hating you for a few weeks and I’m sorry for what I said to you and about you.

What my parents did was for my own good, and I’m glad they did it. I think more parents should do this, not to punish their kids, but to help them realize something. Not all interactions have to happen over the Internet. I had deeper and more meaningful conversations with my friends and family, face to face over the summer, and was a lot more invested in the people and events around me. So thank you mom and dad.