Welcome to DADS™— Read This First.
I’m glad you’re here!
The First DAD.
Hello. I’m Matthew, and I’m grateful you’re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.
I started DADS™ because I’m a husband and father of five young children and I’m concerned about the outcomes I see in today’s families and children — anxiety, digital dependence and dysfunction to name just three — and I want something better for mine.
I am far from perfect — and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers — But I’m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.
At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, “We’ll be Dads Against Devices.” It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that’s how DADS™ got started.
Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS™ is about more than just devices. My hope is to inspire men, husbands, and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.
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 are among the most noble pursuits.
I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.
I believe that fathers should lead their families in unity with mothers — supported by mentors and caregivers.
I also believe that the family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.
This is why I strive to live the DADS™ pledge.
The 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 my children to have 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.
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 live the pledge.
Join DADS™ like you.
You won’t find me on social media — and that’s the point. In line with the pledge, the DADS™ Newsletter is analog. Each month I mail a physical copy of the newsletter to everyone on my mailing list.
You can join the mailing list by submitting your mailing address.
Sustaining DADS™
The DADS™ physical newsletter is a labor of love that’s a free gift from my home to yours.
That said, I certainly appreciate anyone who believes in me or the DADS™ pledge and wants to help sustain it and help it reach more people. Each newsletter costs around $1.20 in material costs and postage.
Here are three optional ways you can help sustain DADS™
Become a monthly sustainer. Monthly sustainers receive access to the digital archive on Substack so they can view all past editions. Choose to sustain for $10/mo
One off sustainers. You can Venmo one off amounts — anything, and everything helps.
Purchase Merchandise. I’ve created some DADS™ branded apparel that helps sustain the mission, and spread the message.
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.