Should kids have smartphones? Nearly a quarter of UK children aged 5-7 have the mobile device

BRISTOL: More parents and educators in Britain are pushing to restrict younger children from having access to smartphones amid concerns over cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and mental health. 

There are also fears that dependence on mobile phones could affect their ability to communicate and concentrate in future, said observers. 

BANNING PHONE SALES TO CHILDREN UNDER 16

This comes as nearly a quarter of five- to seven-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone, according to communications regulator OFCOM. 

A third of children in this age group use social media unsupervised, OFCOM found. An increasing number also have their own profiles on social media platforms despite being too young. 

Dr Benjamin Knight, senior lecturer in education at the University of the West of England Bristol, believes the pace of technological change is an issue when it comes to parents controlling their children’s online presence.

“I think that rapid change, over what is just a few decades, has meant that we, as a society, are building the plane whilst flying it,” said Dr Knight, a father of two who was also a primary school teacher for more than a decade.

“In many ways, this is a live experiment. And a great many teachers, a great many parents and perhaps a great many policymakers as well, feel as though the grown-ups are struggling to catch up with the pace of change.”

The UK government is reportedly considering banning the sale of smartphones to children younger than 16. 

A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment, but noted that the government has recently backed head teachers who prohibit phone use during the school day.

POTENTIAL HARMS INCLUDE INCREASED ANXIETY, BODY DYSMORPHIA

However, wider public opinion is split. 

A poll in April involving more than 4,000 respondents found that 36 per cent supported a ban, but almost the same proportion – 38 per cent – opposed it. Many cited a dislike of the government dictating what they could do.

Another survey in March found that parents are more in favour of a smartphone ban, with 58 per cent backing it. 

Various studies noted that the likely harms of social media use by children include increased anxiety, body dysmorphia, poor sleep quality, depression, suicidal thoughts or even suicide. 

Yet the potential benefits include healthy connections with family and friends, learning opportunities, and a space for self-expression, said observers. 

The Online Safety Act, which aims to ensure that social media firms limit harmful or illegal content that could be seen by children, is already in place. It is also meant to enforce the minimum age requirements for each site. 

However, critics believe it does not go far enough to keep children safe online.

TRYING TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE

Some parents told CNA that they are doing more to protect their children in the face of rapidly-changing technology, and questioned whether the government or tech firms are doing enough. 

The grassroots movement Smartphone Free Childhood, which has members split across hundreds of WhatsApp groups, is among a growing number of parent communities focused on the issue. 

“When I was a child, once you left school and you were back in the family home at evenings and weekends, your focus was there,” said one parent. 

“Now you’re carrying around a phone, and parents are just as guilty of it. You can sit around the meal table and people can be looking at their phones. 

“They’re being influenced by social media, or they’re being influenced by a WhatsApp conversation that’s going on with friends, and there might be an argument or fallout, and then you’re dealing with that. It’s coming into the family space.”