His mother promised him $1,800 when he turned 18—if he stayed off social media for 6 years

Source: China Daily

In modern society, both adults and children, addicted to social media can not help themselves. After witnessing the impact of social media on her daughters, one mother gave her 12-year-old son a "tough trick" by rewarding him with $1,800 on his 18th birthday as long as his son didn't use social media for six years.

Sivert Klefsaas stayed off social media for six years after being challenged by his mother in 2016. (Courtesy: Lorna Goldstrand Klefsaas)

If someone said they'd pay you $1,800 to stay off social media for six years, would you do it? Could you?

If someone says you don't use social media for six years and you'll be given $1,800 (about 11,382 yuan), would you? Can you do it?

Sivert Klefsaas did just that.

Siewett Krephsus did just that.

'I thought it was awesome,' Sivert told CNN Tuesday, 'I thought, 'Ah what's 6 more years?''

Siewett told CNN on Tuesday (Feb. 22): "I feel great. I thought to myself, what's the harm in six more years? ”

In 2016, Lorna Goldstrand Klefsaas challenged her 12-year-old son Sivert to stay off social media until he was 18. If he completed the challenge, she'd award him the cash on his eighteenth birthday. On February 19, 2022, Sivert claimed his prize.

In 2016, Lorna Goldstrand Krevesus challenged her 12-year-old son, Seevert, not to use social media until he turned 18. If he could complete the challenge, she would give him a cash prize on his 18th birthday. On February 19, 2022, Siewett received his prize money.

Lorna was inspired by a challenge she heard on the radio called the '16 for 16', where a mother gave her daughter $1,600 when she turned 16 if she stayed off social media, she told CNN. She decided to up the ante to two extra years and $200 more.

Lorna told CNN that she once heard a "16 for 16" story on the radio, where a mother promised her daughter that if her daughter insisted on not using social media, she would give her $1,600 in rewards when she turned 16. Lorna felt inspired. She decided to extend the period by two years and increase the prize by $200.

Sivert said it wasn't too difficult to live without social media, and he didn't think about it much during the six years. As a 12 year old, Sivert said he wasn't using social media much anyway. The only app he had prior to the bet was Snapchat -- which he deleted a day after trying it out.

Siewett said the days without social media weren't too hard either, and he didn't think much about it in the last six years. Siewett says he didn't use social media much anyway when he was 12. The only app he used before taking on the challenge was Snapchat, which he tried for a day and then uninstalled.

'I wouldn't say there was ever a time where I thought I was about to break,' he said. 'As it went on, it was more of a pride thing.'

"I don't think I've ever had a moment when I was on the verge of collapse [because I couldn't use social media," he said. And as time goes by, it brings me more of a sense of pride. ”

He also had his friends to keep him up to date on the latest information or trends. 'I got to avoid all the unnecessary drama that was on there,' Sivert added.

In addition, Siewett can also get the latest information or trends through friends. He added: "I can avoid all kinds of senseless dog blood drama on social media. ”

Lorna said she never had to check for any sneakily downloaded apps. 'He's so competitive, it was definitely more for proving a point,' she said.

Lorna said she never needed to check if her son had secretly downloaded the app. She said: "His desire to win or lose is very strong, and his persistence is more to prove himself. ”

It also meant he had more time to focus on his grades and sports instead, Sivert told reporter.

Siewett told reporters it also meant he had more time to spend on his studies and athletics.

Now $1,800 richer, Sivert told CNN he hasn't thought about what to buy (when he was 12, he joked he'd get a house), but it'll likely be something for his dorm room at the University of Northwestern St. Paul, which he'll attend in the fall.

With $1,800 in his pocket now, Siewett told CNN that he hadn't yet figured out what to buy (he joked when he was 12 about buying a house), but was likely using the money to buy something for his dorm room at Northwestern University in São Paulo, and that he was going to college this fall.

But he has already decided on his first foray into social media: getting Instagram.

But he has decided that the first step he has taken on social media is to download Instagram.

'There's definitely a learning curve,' Sivert said. 'I see my friends fly through their social media apps and I can't do that quite yet.'

"It definitely takes a learning process," Siewett said. I watch my friends play social media apps so well that I don't know much right now. ”

After Sivert's success, Lorna, ironically, took to Facebook to share the challenge. She said it was some of the best money she ever spent. Other parents have seemed interested in trying it out too, she told CNN.

Ironically, after the success of the Sivert challenge, Lorna shared the challenge on Facebook. She said it was the most valuable sum she had spent. She told CNN that other parents also seem interested in trying this approach.

'We are certainly not against social media, but it's the healthy using of it,' Lorna noted. 'It's about not letting yourself get weighed down by it, or addicted to it, or affected by things that people post.'

Lorna points out: "We are certainly not against social media, but what we value is healthy usage habits. Don't be dragged down by social media, don't make yourself addicted, or influenced by what people share. ”

She added she thinks her son now has a 'different perspective' on social media than he would have at age 12.

She added that she believes her son now has a "different perspective" on social media than when he was 12 years old.

Sivert is the youngest of four children, and his three older sisters all used social media growing up. Lorna said there were times she felt her daughters 'got too engrossed' in their apps and feeds.

Siewett is the youngest of her four children, and his three older sisters all grew up on social media. Lorna says she sometimes feels her daughters are "too addicted" to apps and messaging.

'It was affecting their mood, their friendships and was kind of a depressant,' she said. When one of her daughters was 16, Lorna took away her phone because of it. Lorna says her daughter later thanked her for doing so, as it improved her mood.

"Social media influences their mood and friendship like a sedative," she said. Because of this, Lorna confiscated one of her daughters' phones when she was 16. Lorna said that her daughter later thanked her for this because it made her feel better.

'For some reason, kids and adults feel so comfortable behind a screen,' Lorna said, referencing the kinds of comments people post. 'I'm so happy (Sivert) didn't have to read any of that.'

Referring to the various comments people post, Lorna said: "For some reason, kids and adults feel comfortable hiding behind screens. I'm glad Siewett didn't have to read these rambling comments. ”

Source: CNN

Translator & Editor: Dani