Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Bad ideas

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:29 GMT

A single bad idea that’s believed can be sufficient to hamper or harm a life. The internet is filled to overflowing with bad ideas. This is why critical thinking is so essential for us and our families. We must teach our children to challenge and explore ideas; especially the ideas that run counter to the wisdom we have inherited from our ancestors over millennia.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

It’s not sheltering

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:02:09 GMT

Sometimes I’ve heard the honest effort of parents to protect their children branded as ‘sheltering’; which term rarely has any positive connotation. Deciding when and where ideas, information and problems are presented and exposed is not sheltering; it’s called parenting. So often technology seeks to circumvent a parents responsibility to teach and prematurely presents material a child is not ready or prepared to understand.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Love your wife

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:01:46 GMT

One of the best things a father can do for his children is to love his wife and their mother and ensure the marriage continues to grow strong and vibrant.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Counter Culture

Matthew Royston — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:02:14 GMT

I don’t consider it counter culture not giving my children their own smartphone. I consider it common sense. I don’t need a study to tell me what my eyes can already see; smartphones and unfettered access to screens, gaming and the internet are harmful to children and even adults.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Legislation

Matthew Royston — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:02:05 GMT

No amount of legislation can compensate for leadership at home. Children don’t need governments banning them from social media; they need parents who refuse to provide the ways and means of accessing it because they know it’s harmful.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Boredom

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:01:29 GMT

I want my children to get bored because boredom is where ideas get built. It’s where imagination ignites and creativity is cradled.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Tracking Children

Matthew Royston — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:00:45 GMT

Tracking a child doesn’t prevent harm, accident, kidnapping, or poor choices. Let’s all admit that tracking children is far more about soothing our own anxiety as parents than it is about our child’s welfare.

Communication and trust have always been effective at protecting children. They don’t need a smartphone or GPS tracker to be ‘safe’.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Happiness

Matthew Royston — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:01:48 GMT

Because we’re hardwired for connection, it does not surprise me that many seem to experience unhappy outcomes in their lives when so much of their attention and energy is invested in lifeless or lackluster online connection that does not feed the soul.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Tools

Matthew Royston — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:01:41 GMT

Technology in is right place is a tool that helps elevate the human experience and condition. Unfortunately for many it’s become a pernicious master that’s enslaved and robbed us of connection with others, the earth, and the God who created us.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

My DADS™ Pledge

I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.

What I Believe.

I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.

I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.

I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.

I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.

What I do

I live the pledge in my own home — then I invite others to join me without judgement.
I have honest conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting… even when they’re difficult.
I share practical tips, inspiring stories, encouragement and resources to help DADS™ and others.

Freedom

Matthew Royston — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 11:02:44 GMT

As America remembers and celebrates 250 years of freedom, perhaps we might reflect on how free our personal life is. So many of us have become prisoners to a digital world of screens and scrolling. Maybe today we could decide to liberate ourselves and our families from the clutches of big tech.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

I will lead my family — by example and instruction — to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, and nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith. To protect my family, I will not allow social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home, nor will I provide personal smartphones to my children until they demonstrate the maturity to use them responsibly.

May 2026 Newsletter

Matthew Royston — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:03:07 GMT

This newsletter is a labor of love from my home to yours.

You won’t find me on social media — and that’s the point. In line with what I believe, my DADS™ Newsletter is primarily analog. Each month I distribute physical copies of my newsletter around local communities.

I also publish the digital version of my newsletter right here on Substack so that anyone, anywhere can have access to it, share it, and participate in the community we are creating.

If you would like to receive and read every issue of my DADS™ newsletter, you can subscribe to my mailing list. Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Subscribe now

DADS Newsletter May 2026

2.63MB ∙ PDF file

Download

The Paradox of Social Media

Matthew Royston — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:22:04 GMT

The paradox of social media is that it actually creates increased feelings of loneliness and detachment. This is because it only offers the facade of connection without actually providing real connection.

The first year of marriage found my wife and I spending many months apart figuring out visas and immigration — I loved that technology was able to help us stay in contact but it was never able to create true connection.

We’re hardwired for in-person, physical connection; it’s what we need to thrive and survive. We need it as fathers and our children absolutely need it.

It should be no surprise then that increasing numbers of people who spend time on social media and their phones report feeling lonely, depressed, or anxious.

This is why, even if we make the decision to provide a smartphone to our children, social media should never be permitted. Instead we need to provide and encourage real, in-person connection for our children.

One way we can do this is by opening our homes and allowing our children to invite their friends to spend time together; without personal screens that isolate.

Our children need connection, not the counterfeits that cause harm.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

Where will you be this Thanksgiving?

Matthew Royston — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:03:08 GMT

The usual posting schedule is Monday and Friday, but I wanted to share this post with you early so you could read it before Thanksgiving; Friday would be too late. So this post is coming 2-days early this week. I hope it helps you have a great Thanksgiving.

This week I sat down and tried to remember where I’d been every Thanksgiving since I got married in 2012. Fortunately our phones geotag our location when we take photos which helped greatly. However one year, 2015 continues to elude me. I have no photos, no record, and apparently no memory of that year.

This was a fun exercise to remember and reminisce on years gone by. But this also sparked some thoughts about this year.

Thanksgiving is a holiday where many people go great distances to gather with friends and family. This year our family drove 15 hours to Texas; last year we drove 7 hours to Illinois.

What is so strange, almost ridiculous, is that after spending so much time and money to gather, we waste so much of our time together isolated in our own little online worlds — we’ve gathered but we aren’t together.

This happened quite a lot last Thanksgiving as we gathered with family in Illinois. So I’m making a conscious effort this year to put my phone away on Thanksgiving day. I believe that if I’m unable to go one day without needing to be tethered to my phone I have a problem.

Where do I plan to be this Thanksgiving? Present, not just physically but mentally. Where will you be this Thanksgiving?

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

Informed by information.

Matthew Royston — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:03:06 GMT

We all influence and get influenced by others. Some like to downplay how influenceable they are; however even the ideas of the most independent thinkers will be informed, shaped and even curated by the information they digest.

Children are especially susceptible to influence. What they read, see, and hear shapes the way they think, feel, and react to the world around them.

Misinformation, disinformation, lies, propaganda, and extreme ideologies are not new to our modern age — they’ve probably existed since humans came to be.

What is unique about our day is how pervasive and ferocious these things are. A radical or false idea had a much harder time spreading in 1925. But in 2025, because of the democratization of technology, and its increasing ease of use, almost anyone can create content and immediately commence disseminating it — this of course is wonderful when what is being created is true, beautiful, or elevating.

But with no restrictions or restraints to slow down or verify content that’s created before being published, we find so much content that is misleading, deliberately false, or radical. We also find content that’s created to inflame our negative emotions and spark division.

It’s true that you can find some good things on social media and the internet; but you have to wade through a lot of danger to retrieve it.

This is why I’m choosing to protect my family by not allowing social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home. Childhood is a precious and precarious period of human development that must be shielded from unnecessary assaults upon their minds and soul.

Childhood should be characterized by exploring the real world through experiences, books, and relationships; this is the childhood I’m trying to provide for my children. I’d love more fathers to join me so it didn’t feel like such a lonely journey.

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

The things we can’t pass on to our children.

Matthew Royston — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:02:33 GMT

There are lots of things our children can inherit from us; biology, personality and tangible assets. But one thing we cannot pass to our children is a deep internal sense of purpose.

Discovering and understanding the meaning and purpose of life, existence, conscience, and eternity will always be a deeply individual and personal one. We can, and should walk the path ourselves and tell our children how to start walking it themselves; but they must do it themselves.

Technology is one of the great roadblocks that prevents too many, especially our children, from thinking, exploring and discovering. There are no comfortable answers to the deeply personal questions of the soul — but avoiding them seems to cause tremendous harm.

It is good to reflect and meditate on one’s impermanence or insignificance in the world. Doing so often evokes gratitude, humility and perspective; all of which are staples of a good life.

Too many of our rising generation are so distracted or addicted to screens that they find little time to be alone with themselves.

As fathers we play a pivotal part in helping our children create the space and time to be alone with themselves so that their minds wander toward meaning, purpose, enlightenment.

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

5 Reflective Questions to Ask Ourselves About Our Own Screen Time.

Matthew Royston — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:24:09 GMT

Being a DAD is about leading by example and teaching our children to use technology with purpose.

The technology tools available to us are incredible and powerful — but when they are misused — or even overused — they can become harmful. They can damage our relationships and diminish our ability to lead our children.

As DADS™, we have a responsibility to reflect — and refine when needed — how and why we are using screens — doing so will help us guide our children to use technology wisely, safely, and with intention.

Here are 5 reflective questions that we can ask ourselves about our own screen time.

Am I using my time wisely and productively?
What am I primarily using screens for? (To learn, be entertained, connect, create, relax?)
How much time do I really need on my devices each day?
Is my screen time helping to leave me better — smarter, kinder, calmer — or worse?
If my children perfectly mirrored my relationship with devices would I be proud of that?

I hope these help you as you continue to raise your wonderful children.From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

Putting conversation on the table.

Matthew Royston — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 23:01:29 GMT

I am a big advocate for device-free family meals around the dinner table.

Every family’s schedule and rhythm looks slightly different; but as DADS™ I encourage us to make meals together a priority. These moments offer us the opportunity to model connection, practice communication, and build the skills of empathy and critical thinking in our children.

A missed meal is often a missed opportunity to check in, to observe, and grow together.

If you’re out of the habit of eating together, or devices have crept into your families tradition, these 9 conversation starters are here to help you bring the conversation — and connection — back to the table.

1. Who did you help today, and how?
2. What’s something you learned or improved at today?
3. What are you struggling with, and how can we help?
4. How did you make the world a better place today?
5. Where did you fail today — and what did it teach you?
6. Where did you succeed today — and what helped you succeed?
7. What was the high point and low point of your day?
8. Which goal did you make progress on today?
9. What do you need from your family right now?

I really hope these conversation starters help you raise present, resilient and happy children — one meal, one conversation, one connection at a time.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

I will lead my family — by example and instruction — to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, and nurture the attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith. To protect my family, I will not allow social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home, nor will I provide personal smartphones to my children until they demonstrate the maturity to use them responsibly.

How can I lead my children when I also struggle to have healthy boundaries with technology?

Matthew Royston — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:29:22 GMT

Do you wonder how you can possibly teach healthy relationships with technology when you also struggle to achieve this?

Children, especially my own, are adept at spotting hypocrisy. I am the first to acknowledge that I wrestle with the ideals I believe and penned as the Dads Against Devices™ pledge.

Obvious hypocrisy around screens and technology will undermine our efforts to teach our children. There’s no doubt.

That’s why lessons are best learned when our children observe us striving for real-world connection, creating healthy boundaries around technology, and being present.

To be certain, when the disparity between what we say and what we do is so contrasting, our children will likely follow what we do, not what we say — even when we teach them otherwise.

That said, we certainly do not need to be flawless or perfect before we start leading. And we absolutely need to give ourselves grace as we learn and grow as fathers.

But amid that grace, we must willingly demonstrate humility. It’s good for us, and for our children to hear, to acknowledge our own struggles as we strive to do things differently, grow personally, and lead our children to do the same.

Our striving should be for growth and progress — not perfection.

In all our efforts, we should be patient with ourselves, and those we love.

Our world is flooding with distractions and deceptions. Let’s lovingly teach and help one another to swim.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.

6 Questions to Ask Before saying “Yes” to Screen Time.

Matthew Royston — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:02:39 GMT

Being a DAD doesn’t mean we ban technology in our homes. We believe in boundaries — not bans.

Being a DAD is about leading by example and teaching our children to use technology with purpose.

The technology tools available to our children are incredible and powerful, but when they are left unsupervised, unrestricted or untrained, those tools can become harmful — even dangerous.

As DADS™ it’s our job to understand how and why our children are using screens, so we can guide them to use technology wisely, safely, and with intention.

Here are 6 questions that we can ask before saying “yes” to screen time.

What are you trying to do? (Learn something, be entertained, connect, create, relax?)
How much time do you need — and why that amount?
Who will you be interacting with — online or in-person?
Where will you be while using the device? (Is it a shared space, private space, supervised or unsupervised?)
Why this specific app, game or website — and is it the best option for your goal?
Will this leave you better — smarter, kinder, calmer — or worse?

I hope this helps you as you continue to raise your wonderful children.

From my home,

Matthew

Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™

Our pledge.