The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has suggested that phones for children under the age of 16 should not be outright banned. This comes in response to a committee of MPs who recommended that such a ban should be considered during the first year of the new government. MPs warned of the “serious dangers” posed to children online and the ease with which inappropriate content can be accessed.
Sir Keir acknowledged that there is a “serious question” to be asked about what content children can access online and he believes that we need to look again at how online content is controlled. However, the Prime Minister would not comment on whether or not his teenage children have their screen time monitored. Sir Keir and his wife have made a “strong decision” to keep their offspring out of political discussions.
Giving an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Sir Keir expressed his opinion that the proposal to ban phones for under-16s is not a practical way forward. Rather, he believes that we should look at what is available online to children and how to put in place better protections. Sir Keir has also pledged to “sit down with anyone” to explore ways to address this issue.
The UK government has already issued guidance for schools aimed at restricting phone use during the school day. The guidance contains examples of how to achieve a phone-free environment, such as a total ban on school premises or handsets being handed in at the start of the day. However, some campaigners argue that further action is needed to protect children from harmful content online.
The Education Select Committee has previously reported that children’s screen time has been increasing year on year. It also revealed that one in four children use their phones in a manner that resembles “behavioural addiction,” with 79% of children encountering violent pornography before they turn 18. While the Online Safety Act will put responsibility on social media firms to protect children from harmful material, it will not be fully implemented until 2026. The NSPCC has also expressed concern over the lack of young people’s voices in the debate
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