Legislation is being proposed in the UK to ban smartphones in schools. The so-called Safer Phones Bill will be introduced in Parliament by MP and former teacher, Josh MacAlister. The Bill requests that government guidance be transformed into law and that “seatbelt legislation” is introduced to discourage social media use among children. Most secondary schools in the country already have a ban or smartphone restriction in place. Private member bills rarely advance without government support, but they provide a forum for backbenchers to highlight issues.
Proposals within the Bill call for the legal requirement for all schools to be mobile-free zones, with non-permissioned data consents from children under 16 being raised. UK regulator, Ofcom, would also see its powers strengthened, allowing it to enforce codes of conduct prohibiting children from being exposed to apps and services designed to be addictive. Further regulation of the design, marketing, and use of mobile phones by under-16s could also be introduced where necessary.
The Safer Phones Bill has gained support from MPs and former education secretaries from both sides of the political spectrum, current and previous children’s commissioners, numerous campaigning and education-focused charities, and teaching unions. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has also endorsed the initiative, with General Secretary, Pepe Di’lasio, highlighting the need for regulation over smartphone sales and online platform conduct.
Ormiston Chadwick Academy in Cheshire, England, recently announced a scheme that makes the school entirely phone-free. The school is enforcing the new policy by students placing their phones in a locker for the day. The academy’s principal, Jennifer Lowry-Johnson, reported a 50% reduction in social media-related safeguarding referrals since the launch of the scheme. Emilia, a Year 11 student at the academy, was initially alarmed by the new policy but now backs it wholeheartedly, stating that it has “taken my anxiety away from me”.
Concerns have been raised by some parents about their children being isolated from their peers if they do not have access to smartphones. Social media firms, including Meta and Snapchat, have introduced additional protections for children’s accounts including Teen Accounts in Instagram, though the companies have not responded to the BBC’s requests for comment on the Bill
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