Emmy Winner's Powerful Pledge: No More Phones When with Kids

In November 2025, Emmy-winning actor Ryan Coleman shared a personal story about a transformative conversation with his 7-year-old daughter, Story Annabelle. Coleman, who is a news writer for Entertainment Weekly, explained that he had been trying to finish an email on his phone when his daughter came to ask him a question. Noticing that he was distracted, she stopped asking and went to play.

Feeling remorseful, Coleman apologized and made a pact with his daughter, promising that he would no longer use his phone when spending time with her. Her one-word response, "Really?", broke his heart, and he immediately committed to keeping his word. The heartwarming moment led Coleman to reflect on the importance of being present for one's children, rather than letting technology control us.

Expanding on his views, Coleman emphasized that we owe it to our kids to make an effort to unplug and engage with them. He criticized the notion that technology is the "end all be all", arguing that we can choose whether it controls us or we control it. Coleman's stance on technology is not new, as he has previously expressed concerns about the impact of innovations like streaming on the entertainment industry.