Most parents want under-16s smartphone ban, finds poll

Screen use wrecking children’s eyesight, mental health and life chances, warn campaigners

Most parents want the Government to ban smartphones for under-16s, a poll has found.
Parentkind, a charity, is urging all political parties to put age restrictions on smartphones after its survey unveiled the scale of concern about the dangers to children.
The poll of 2,496 parents in England with at least one child aged between four and 18 found that 83 per cent believe that smartphones are harmful to children.
About 58 per cent back a smartphone ban for under 16s.
Among primary school parents, support for a ban for under 16s was 77 per cent.
Sophie Winkleman, the 43-year-old actress and mother, who is the daughter-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, is calling for children to be given “brick” phones instead of smartphones.
Commenting on the Parentkind survey, she said: “Smartphones and screen use are wrecking children’s eyesight, their neurological, emotional and mental health, their educational attainment and their life chances. This poll unequivocally shows parents’ deep concern about the impact of smartphones on their children.”
The poll comes in the wake of the murder of Brianna Ghey, who was killed by schoolchildren who accessed violent content online.
Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, is campaigning for under 16s to be banned from accessing social media.
Dr Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP, said: “Parental voices plus the detrimental and worsening impacts of smartphones on children that I see every day in practice, and observe hourly in the wider world, is all the evidence we need to create change now. 
“Not only this, but older teenagers themselves are now voicing regrets that they were ever given a smartphone. This is a child public health concern.”
The Parentkind survey found that 93 per cent of parents think social media is harmful to children.
Almost all, or 95 per cent, of parents want social media giants and tech companies to do more to protect children from harmful content.
Children are typically allowed to sign up for social media accounts from the age of 13. However, the poll found that 80 per cent of parents believe this age limit is too low and should be raised.
Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: “Society has sleepwalked into a position where children are addicted to harmful ‘electronic drugs’ and have no escape from their digital dealers. 
“We are starting to understand the harms of social media and the unrestricted gateway smartphones provide to vile online content but it seems parents already get it.”
He added: “The pressure is starting to mount on the Government to act and political parties to come together on this issue to protect children. This should be as uncontroversial as banning vaping for children.”
Last year, Dr Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, issued a warning that social media can carry “a profound risk of harm to the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents”. 
The latest World Happiness Report found that children and young people in the West are becoming less happy than older generations.
Arabella Skinner, director of parent-led campaign Safe Screens, said: “The drop in youth happiness should be a wake-up call for governments and society, and it appears that the overwhelming majority of parents agree with the US surgeon general’s conclusion that smartphones and social media are harmful.”
In February, the Department for Education published non-statutory guidance for schools in England intended to stop the use of mobile phones during school hours.
A government spokesman said: “The educational and social benefits of technology are immense, but this should not come at the expense of children’s safety. That is why we issued guidance on banning smartphones in schools last month to support teachers and keep schools as a place of learning.
“The majority of social media sites say they do not allow under 13s. Once implemented the Online Safety Act will require platforms to enforce their age limits and protect children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content.”