Parent groups rally to ban smartphones for children under 16

It’s no secret that in this day and age, smartphone addiction poses a significant threat to children. The constant barrage of notifications, social media updates, and addictive games can make it difficult for children to put their phones down, leading to negative impacts on mental health, relationships, and academic performance. As a result, the parent group UsforThem has launched a campaign urging the UK government to ban smartphones for children under 16 and implement “tobacco-style health warnings” on mobile phone packaging.

The campaign has already gained traction amongst experts and MPs, including school reformer Katharine Birbalsingh, who believes that banning smartphones for children under 16 is necessary.

Birbalsingh argues the law already bans children from engaging in activities like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and watching certain films, so it makes sense to also ban smartphones. Additionally, British actress Sophie Winkleman, who also supports the movement, stated that the regular use of phones and social media apps, such as TikTok, hampers children’s ability to learn.

“The internet is a toxic wilderness we’re letting children stumble through without protection. I lived in California and spent time with bigwigs in Silicon Valley, and tellingly they did not let their children anywhere near screens,” said Winkleman.

Limiting children’s smartphone usage with parental controls

While the idea of banning smartphones for children may seem extreme, considering the increasing use of online classes, parents can still limit their children’s use of these devices without resorting to a ban.

Both iOS and Android offer parental control features that allow parents to set limits on their children’s app usage. For instance, Screen Time on iOS and Digital Wellbeing on Android both allow parents to set up usage restrictions, app limits, and content and privacy filter. Moreover, parents can also require approval for app installations and manage in-app purchases. Still, even with these parental management tools, it seems that some feel a ban is a more appropriate measure.