A professor, now regarded as a “digital nutritionist,” suggests that disabling the color on your phone and dedicating 30 minutes a week to pruning your online feeds can enhance consumers’ control over their digital media consumption.

These strategies, termed grayscale and algorithmic tolerance, are part of Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr’s many recommendations. She is an associate professor at the University of London and a prominent authority on digital literacy.

While much of the conversation centers on social media’s negative effects on children, Regehr’s focus is on combating digital illiteracy among parents, empowering them to better understand and use their children’s devices safely and effectively.

In her upcoming book, Smartphone Nation, Regehr advises taking an initial step by performing a digital “walkthrough” of your preferred app alongside friends and family.

“Switching your phone to GreyScale is one of the easiest and quickest methods to grasp how colors and images impact your user experience,” she notes. “This experience allows you to feel the addictive nature of these devices through their visual elements.”

Users can find instructions for this feature in Google Help for Android devices or Apple Support for iPhones.

On the flip side, algorithm resistance focuses on taking charge of the algorithm rather than allowing it to dictate your preferences. Thus, Regehr advocates for being deliberate about what you wish to see in your feed, and filtering out unwanted content for 30 minutes each week.

“When I had concerns about my family’s digital consumption… I struggled to find adequate guidance,” Regehr shares in her book. “I developed a framework to help myself and my family navigate the digital landscape. I came to see myself as a digital nutritionist.”

In a conversation with the Guardian, she expressed her support for school smartphone bans and initiatives promoting a smartphone-free childhood, but highlighted the necessity for more education to encourage families to think critically about their digital choices.

“Even if parents postpone giving their children smartphones until they are 15, they will still turn 16. It’s essential to equip them with the tools to navigate this environment effectively,” she emphasized. “Education on how these devices operate is crucial.”

Her forthcoming book, “Why Are We All Obsessed with the Screen and What You Can Do About It,” aims to bridge this knowledge gap, with new educational resources set to be introduced in schools later this month.

As per the UK’s first national survey, nearly all schools in the country have implemented a ban on mobile phone usage during school hours.

Driven by worries regarding children’s mental health, attention span, and online safety, a survey of over 15,000 schools revealed that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools enforce some form of ban.

“I advocate for my efforts towards a smartphone-free childhood,” stated Regehr, who directs the digital humanities program at UCL and previously explored the rapid amplification of extreme misogynistic content through social media algorithms. “My concern is that enforcing the ban can lead schools and lawmakers to feel complacent, believing they’ve fulfilled their responsibilities.”

Dedicated to two young girls, Regehr’s book aims to prompt a cultural shift. “I aspire to reflect on our generation as being less healthy and more skillfully ensnared, akin to looking back on previous norms like smoking in delivery rooms and not using seatbelts.”

“My aim is to foster cultural change to ensure their lives are better. This represents the largest threat to their health and well-being, and that is the challenge I wish to tackle. I believe change is possible; people simply need access to information.”

Smartphone Nation: Why We’re All Obsessed with Screens and What You Can Do by Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr is set to be published by Bluebird on May 15th.