Norfolk dad says banning phones in schools is a 'no-brainer'
The equivalent of "seatbelt" legislation is needed for children's social media use to help them manage addictive content, according to one MP
A dad of two who lives just south of Norwich is telling us that banning phones in schools is a 'no-brainer'- that will help reduce children's anxiety and improve their concentration.
It's as an MP has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to Parliament earlier this week- aiming to protect children from excessive screen time and addictive content.
"Children that age need to learn how to be bored"
Thorfinn Armstrong lives in Great Moulton:
"The reason that people really want their children to have mobile phones and social media, seems to be driven purely by peer-pressure.
"Kids around them have got all of this and therefore if yours is the one that hasn't got one, then they might be left out by their friends and miss out on how their friends engage".
"Children that age need to learn how to be bored. So that they can figure out what they're going to do to entertain themselves.
"That's when they go outside and make a den, or make paper aeroplanes or do things like arts and crafts. All really wholesome activities, where they can actually learn something."
The bill in more detail:
The equivalent of "seatbelt" legislation is needed for children and their social media use to help them manage addictive content, according to former teacher Josh MacAlister.
The Bill, which aims to empower families and teachers to cut down on children's daily smartphone screen time, will call for a legal requirement to be introduced so all schools in England are mobile-free zones.
In February, schools in England were given guidance under the former Conservative government intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day, but it is currently non-statutory.
The Bill is also expected to call for the age at which companies can get data consent from children without parental permission to be raised from 13 to 16 to make smartphones less addictive.
Other proposals include strengthening watchdog Ofcom's powers to protect children from apps that are designed to be addictive, and committing the Government to review further regulation if needed of the design, supply, marketing and use of mobile phones by children under the age of 16.
Mr MacAlister, who led an independent review into children's social care for the former government, said: "The evidence is mounting that children doom scrolling for hours a day is causing widespread harm. We need the equivalent of the 'seatbelt' legislation for social media use for children.
"Adults find it hard enough to manage screen time, so why are we expecting children to manage this addictive content without some shared rules? Parents are in an impossible bind over whether to ostracise their child from social media or expose them to the harms and addiction of content.
"Countries around the world are now taking bold action and our children risk being left behind. It's time to have the national debate here in the UK."
MPs are expected to debate the issue in the new year, Mr MacAlister's office said.
Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, who was education secretary during Liz Truss's premiership in 2022, said: "The growing evidence of the impact of smartphones on kids is deeply alarming.
"So being clear about our expectations from providers and regulators, and their duties towards our children, has to be a step in the right direction, and I'm pleased to support a Bill that does exactly that."
"We need to start thinking about children's digital safety in a more imaginative way"
Joe Ryrie, co-founder of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign group, said: "Parents everywhere are crying out for Government to go further and faster in regulating big tech so that they alone are not responsible for guarding childhood from the addictive and predatory algorithms for which they are no match.
"We need to start thinking about children's digital safety in a more imaginative way, going beyond just the harms, so that we can build upon the Online Safety Act and start developing a new regulatory approach that has young people's wellbeing and healthy development at its heart."
What's the Government said on this?
A Government spokesperson said:
"We all want to find the best way of ensuring children are kept safe while also benefiting from the latest digital technology.
"The Online Safety Act will introduce strong safeguards for children, preventing them from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content. This will include requiring companies to check the age of children so that parents can have peace of mind about the safety of their children online.
"The vast majority of schools already handle the use of mobile phones effectively, including with bans. Legislating for an outright ban would simply remove the autonomy from school leaders who know their pupils and their communities best."