“Best money I ever spent.”: How mom kept her teen away from social media for years.

Sivert Klefsaas now has his very own Instagram and Snapchat accounts for the first time in his life.

Staying off social media platforms until their 18th birthday is highly unusual for American teens, but Sivert managed to achieve this rare feat. The motivation behind this accomplishment was a pact he made with his mother when he was just 12 years old. The deal was that if he refrained from using social media until he turned 18, she would reward him with $1,800.

At the age of 12, Sivert thought the deal was fantastic, as he recalls, “Being 12, I didn’t really have that great of a concept of money yet. So, I was like, ‘Oh, sick, yeah, absolutely,'” he said with a laugh.

His mother, Lorna Klefsaas, initiated the “18 for 18 challenge” because she had witnessed the negative effects of social media on teenagers. As a mother from Motley, Minnesota, she had three older daughters and had already observed issues arising from their online engagement.

“I had concerns over how I had seen it being used,” said Lorna. “One of my daughters in particular got deeply involved with it, where it was affecting her mood, her friendships. It was hurting her feelings. She had anxiety about keeping up streaks, and that just ended up being really detrimental to her. So I thought, ‘Boy if I could, I’d be willing to do whatever to keep Sivert off as long as I could, whatever that looks like.’”

Sivert recalled having moments of doubt about committing to the challenge, stating, “I think halfway through I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I want to be done.’ But then I was like, well, then I did the last three years for nothing. So it was a pride issue.”

During his social media hiatus, Sivert redirected his focus towards sports and academics, and he found satisfaction in avoiding the typical drama associated with social media. According to Lorna, her investment in the challenge has proven to be successful.

“I know in retrospect, I would pay a lot more than $1,800 to get the results that we had.”

Lorna encourages other parents to contemplate the possibility of undertaking an “18 for 18 challenge” with their children, provided they can afford it. She also recommends setting an example by displaying the behavior you wish to see in your kids. If children observe their parents constantly engrossed in electronic devices, they are likely to emulate that behavior.

In Sivert’s case, he now has some catching up to do in the online world. He admits that he’s a bit behind on current web trends and memes, but he’s enjoying exploring what he has missed, and not missed, over the past six years.

“Social media is great. Absolutely use it,” he said. But “make sure you invest time in other areas of your life too, especially those in-person relationships.”

The notion of redirecting a teenager’s energy toward productive endeavors is commendable. While the internet can serve as an invaluable resource and social platform, there are instances when concentrating on activities closer to home can be more beneficial for everyone involved.