A movement led by British parents to delay giving smartphones to children until at least the end of Year 9 has gained momentum in response to concerns about the addictive nature of smartphones and the negative impact of social media on mental health. Smartphone Free Childhood, a charity founded by Daisy Greenwell, her husband Joe Ryrie, and Clare Fernyhough, has garnered the support of over 124,000 parents across 13,000 British schools.
The initiative aligns with a growing recognition in the UK of the harmful effects of excessive smartphone use on developing brains and mental well-being. A recent survey found that 69% of respondents believe social media negatively impacts children under 15, while nearly half of parents struggle to limit their children’s screen time. Some parents feel the need for urgent action, particularly as technology companies like Meta and X have scaled back fact-checking efforts, potentially allowing misinformation and hate speech to proliferate online.
The movement has prompted some schools and communities to take action to limit smartphone use among children. Schools in Denmark and France have already implemented bans on smartphones, and Norway plans to enforce a minimum age for social media. In the UK, some parents have successfully campaigned for restrictions on phone use in schools, with places like Barnet and Eton implementing bans.
The founders of Smartphone Free Childhood stress the importance of collective action by parents to insulate children from peer pressure to have smartphones. They emphasize the need for a societal conversation about the appropriate age for children to have unrestricted access to technology. Despite hesitancy from the government to legislate on the issue, parents are mobilizing to ensure the safety and well-being of their children in an increasingly digital world.
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