The Analog Shift: Why One Mother Replaced Smart TVs with VHS Tapes

A Turning Point in Screen Time

For many parents, the television often serves as a necessary tool to manage the chaos of raising young children. Mariah Smith, a mother of three, was no exception. During a period she describes as “survival mode,” the television was a constant presence in her home, providing a distraction that allowed her to manage her daily responsibilities. However, this reliance on modern streaming technology came to an abrupt end following a distressing incident involving her eight-year-old daughter.

The catalyst for change was the smart TV’s interface, which frequently displayed unsolicited advertisements for movies and programs. While navigating the menu, Smith’s daughter was exposed to a trailer for a horror film centered on an exorcism. The imagery left the child frightened and unable to sleep, prompting Smith to make a definitive decision: the smart TV had to go.

Transitioning to Vintage Tech

Initially, Smith opted to hide the remote, telling her children the television was broken. While the first few days were marked by persistent requests for screen time, the children adapted to the change much faster than Smith had anticipated. Within a week, the demand for television had significantly subsided.

Seeking alternatives, Smith introduced her children to older forms of entertainment. She retrieved a boombox for radio and music, and dusted off vintage Game Boys. To her surprise, the children were fascinated by these devices, viewing them as novel technology rather than relics of the past. Building on this momentum, Smith retrieved a collection of VHS tapes from her parents’ home—classics she had enjoyed during her own childhood—and set up an older television to play them.

The Benefits of a Slower Pace

A year into this experiment, Smith reports a marked improvement in her household dynamic. One of the primary advantages is the level of control she now has over the content her children consume. Unlike modern streaming platforms, which she found difficult to restrict from showing content like YouTube videos, the VHS and DVD format acts as a natural barrier. Smith notes that she can leave her children to watch a film with the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what they are viewing, as she has vetted every tape and disc in their collection.

Furthermore, the physical nature of the medium—requiring the tapes to be inserted, watched, and manually rewound—creates a definitive end to the viewing experience. Smith observes that this process makes it easier for her children to disengage from the screen without the tantrums that often accompanied the endless, algorithm-driven options of a smart TV. She speculates that the smaller screen size and the slower-paced storylines of older media may contribute to this ease of transition.

A Calmer Home Environment

The impact of this change has extended beyond the children’s behavior. Smith notes that her children are arguing less, are less agitated, and have become more creative, with her daughter taking up hobbies like embroidery and knitting. Even Smith herself has felt a shift, noting that the reduction in constant background noise has helped her own nervous system feel less overwhelmed.

While the family has since incorporated DVDs into their collection to allow for more variety—such as episodes of Bluey—the move away from smart streaming has remained a permanent fixture. For Smith, the shift was not about regressing to the past, but rather finding a slower, more intentional way of living that has proven to be a better fit for her family’s well-being.

Source: businessinsider.com