'Parents and schools must step up to help children with their phones'

A mental health expert from Kent has told us parents and schools must now 'step up' to help children manage their relationship with their mobile phones.

It follows on from Tuesday when Kent's police and crime commissioner revealed that one in three children have been a victim of online bullying.

Michelle Hodgkiss is from Therapy Partners in Maidstone and she believes phones have made children addicted to dopamine, she said: "In schools for example devices are being used more frequently but it's about managing that balance so it doesn't overtake and become the default way in which we learn.

"As it can easily go from something that is great to use in terms of education and self development, to spiralling out of control and becoming detrimental to a young person's mental health.

All this week Greatest Hits Radio has been investigates the damage that phone usage can have on young people, and when asked about the impacts, Michelle said: "Children and constantly seeing who people are and how they are on social media, and that constant comparison can lead us to doubt what they are, what they want, and it can perpetuate this issue that can cause quite low self esteem.

"It can also make kids addicted to dopamine because if they are on social media or playing a game on their phone, they will be getting this instant hit over and over again and this will impact them because they will then go out in life expecting to receive this."