In an effort to protect children’s wellbeing, UK government officials, including Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, are mulling over measures to limit smartphone sales and restrict social media access for those under 16.
UK government ministers are considering measures to address concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on children, including potentially restricting mobile phone sales and social media access for those under 16. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan is involved in shaping these proposals. A consultation is anticipated to discuss implementing age restrictions on social media platforms, alongside other protective measures.
This initiative follows widespread worries among parents and the public about the detrimental effects of digital devices on children’s wellbeing, highlighted by the case of Brianna Ghey, a murdered transgender teenager. Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, supports limiting children’s access to social media through age-appropriate mobile devices.
Recent polling indicates significant support for these measures, with 67% of adults viewing smartphones and social media as harmful, and 64% supporting a sales ban to those under 16. An online petition favoring the ban has also attracted over 19,000 signatures.
The debate over children’s use of smartphones has been further intensified by columnist Melanie McDonagh, who critiques the use of smartphones as a parental substitute. McDonagh argues that using smartphones to pacify children can lead to addiction, mental health issues, and diminished attention spans by the time they reach 16. She believes that societal attitudes need to change and compares the use of smartphones to the negative impacts of smoking around children.
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt has linked a rise in mental health issues among young people with smartphone usage, highlighting the challenges faced by regulatory efforts to curb smartphone sales to children and enforce age restrictions on social platforms. Critics note the difficulty in establishing a direct causal relationship between smartphones and mental health decline, citing the influence of broader societal factors. However, the ongoing discussion emphasizes the need for greater regulation and parental control to mitigate these issues.
