A recent survey has shown that a significant majority of UK parents are concerned about the negative effects of smartphones on children, with over 80% believing these devices to be harmful to the youth. This revelation has led charity Parentkind to call for a ban on smartphone usage for those under 16. The charity’s push for action is supported by 58% of parents, with a higher support rate of 77% among those with primary school-aged children. These concerns mainly centre around online bullying, access to inappropriate content, and the impact of smartphones on children’s well-being.

Parentkind’s campaign has gained additional momentum from individuals such as Esther Ghey, who, following her daughter Brianna’s tragic death, has advocated for stricter age restrictions on smartphone usage and tighter controls on social media access. The charity is urging political parties to consider incorporating this smartphone ban into their manifestos for the upcoming general election, citing the need to protect children from the addictive nature of these devices and the unsuitable content they can easily access.

In response, a Government spokesperson referenced current guidance issued to schools in England, aiming to restrict mobile phone use during school hours, and highlighted the challenge of balancing technological benefits with safety concerns for children. This ongoing debate indicates a strong public and political interest in regulating technology to safeguard the youth, mirroring wider discussions on tech regulation, including proposals to address the misuse of AI technology and deepfakes highlighted in a recent Labour think tank policy paper. The paper suggests a legal ban on nudification tools and regulations for web hosting companies and developers to combat the creation of harmful deepfakes, amid broader debates on how the UK should navigate the evolving tech landscape and ensure AI safety and oversight.