While many of his peers are likely scrolling on TikTok and Snapchat, Laura Derrendinger’s teenage son uses an old rotary phone (Google it), relies on paper road maps to navigate while driving, and spends much of his spare time putting out fires as a junior volunteer for the local fire department.
The 16-year-old, who lives in rural Vermont with his parents and siblings, was raised in an entirely screen-free household and has neither an iPhone nor social media — but he is allowed to use an electric chainsaw under supervision.
