A Minnesota high schooler who patiently waited until he turned 18 to use social media was handsomely rewarded by his proud mother with $1,800.
When Sivert Klefsaas was 12, his mother, Lorna, issued a challenge: If he stayed off all social media until he was 18 years old, she’d give him a hefty sum of cash.
On February 19, Sivert met completed the ’18 for 18 challenge’ — and his mom held up her end of the bargain.
‘He did really dig in,’ Lorna told KARE11. ‘He was like “I’m not breaking this.” I’m proud of him, because there were a few times where it was harder. I knew for sure he was going to make it.’
When Sivert Klefsaas was 12, his mother, Lorna, issued a challenge: If he stayed off all social media until he was 18 years old, she’d give him a hefty sum of cash
On February 19, Sivert met completed the ’18 for 18 challenge’ – and his mom held up her end of the bargain
Lorna got the idea for the reward system after hearing about another mother who did a ’16 for 16 challenge’ with her kid.
She’d seen how social media had negatively impacted her three older children, who got ‘so engrossed’ and would experience negative moods and issue with their friendships.
She said it was ‘kind of a depressant,’ and even took a phone away from one daughter when she was 16.
The mother of four figured that maybe she could prevent that negativity for Sivert and offered him the challenge — which he readily accepted.
‘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.
‘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
Without Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok, Sivert was able to concentrate more on school and sports like football and basketball
Without Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok, Sivert was able to concentrate more on school and sports like football and basketball. He said he relied on friends to keep him up to date on trends.
‘I wouldn’t say there was ever a time where I thought I was about to break,’ he told CNN ‘As it went on, it was more of a pride thing.’
When he was 12, he joked about buying a house with the money, and thought he might be able to get a car with it.
Now he thinks he will probably spend it on something for his dorm at University of Northwestern St. Paul, where he will be a freshman this fall.
He thinks he will probably spend it on something for his dorm at University of Northwestern St. Paul, where he will be a freshman this fall
Now that he’s 18, though, he’s ready to join the digital world, and he signed up for Instagram first on his 18th birthday
Lorna says it’s the best money she’s ever spent, and Sivert says it was ‘totally worth it.’
‘You just hear about all the stuff that goes on and just with my friends and with school, and like, “Oh somebody said this about you,” and, “Oh somebody did that.” And I was really spared from all that,’ he said.
Now that he’s 18, though, he’s ready to join the digital world, and he signed up for Instagram first on his 18th birthday.
‘It’s hilarious. I feel like I’m like 80. I can’t seem to figure out social media. It’s pretty embarrassing. I’ll be with my friends, and they are like, “What are you doing?”‘ he said.