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Ban under-16s from using smartphones, Tory MP suggests

Cricket Warrior

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I know opinions on this matter may vary and some may argue against a ban but i think technological advancements and the involvement of mobile devices into education and daily life is neccessary so all we need to just monitor our kids but banning them to use of technology is not good.

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A Conservative MP has suggested that under-16s should be banned from using smartphones for the sake of their mental health.

Former teacher Miriam Cates put the case to Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions today.

She said there had been a "marked increase" in poor teenage mental health since 2010, and that it was "time to consider banning social media and perhaps even smartphones for under 16s?"

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Ms Cates appeared to reference the case of Mia Janin, a 14-year-old who is believed to have killed herself.

Her father, Mariano Janin, believes she was bullied online by other pupils at the Jewish Free School, in Kenton, London, where she was a Year 10 student.

One child told the inquest into her death that a post from Mia on TikTok was shared to a Snapchat group run by male pupils at the school, where they made fun of her.

Her father, Mariano Janin, believes she was bullied online by other pupils at the Jewish Free School, in Kenton, London, where she was a Year 10 student.

One child told the inquest into her death that a post from Mia on TikTok was shared to a Snapchat group run by male pupils at the school, where they made fun of her.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Cates said: "This morning, the press reported the tragic case of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life following horrific social media bullying, including on TikTok and Snapchat.

"Since 2010, across the English-speaking world, there's been a marked increase in poor teen mental health, teen suicide attempts and children addicted to pornography.

"The United Kingdom has a strong tradition of legislating to protect children from serious threats to their safety and welfare.

"So does my right honourable friend agree with me that it's time to consider banning social media and perhaps even smartphones for under 16s?"

The prime minister said that Ms Cates was "absolutely right to highlight the impact of what happens online to our children".

"And that's why our Online Safety Act tackles both criminal activity online and protects children from harmful or inappropriate content such as bullying or the promotion of self-harm and accessing pornography and also exposure to eating disorders," he said.

"Ofcom are now rightly developing and consulting on the guidance and the codes of practices for how those platforms will meet their duties and if they don't clean up their act then Ofcom will be able to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover on the social media firms."



 
Complete nonsense. Many kids learn a lot online via their smartphones, they keep in touch with their parents when out.

Its up to the parents to monitor what their kids do, not upto the governments to control them.
 
It should only be allowed under parental guidance. As many obscene and adult stuff keep on popping on online platforms these days.
 
A full ban shouldn't be a good thing but there are app that parents can use to keep a track of their kids' activity on their mobile phone which they should be using to make sure that their kids aren't involved in bad things.
 
A full ban shouldn't be a good thing but there are app that parents can use to keep a track of their kids' activity on their mobile phone which they should be using to make sure that their kids aren't involved in bad things.
Yep this way they can protect the children Under-16 from the negative effects of social media.
 
I agree with a complete ban for those under-16, protect the youth from addiction and self-harm :thumbsup
 
Now parents themselves give mobile phones to their children to get a break from the kids as they don't have any other activity to offer.
 
Now parents themselves give mobile phones to their children to get a break from the kids as they don't have any other activity to offer.
Yep it's one reason too that children do become addicted to mobile and other gadgets at a very early stage.
 
Should you give your child a ‘dumb’ phone? They aren’t the answer to fears over kids’ social media use

Parents concerned about the possible dangers smartphone use might have for their children are turning to “dumb phones”. These are the brick-shaped or flip phones today’s parents might have had themselves as teenagers, only capable of making calls or sending text messages and lacking access to social media apps.

Phones available include a remake of noughties classic the Nokia 3210, or new designs such as the recently released Barbie flip phone.
But handing children a “dumb phone” seems to be as much an exercise in nostalgia as proactive practice. Ultimately, young people will end up using smartphones in their social and working lives. They have many useful features. It makes sense for them to learn to use them with the support of adults around them in a nurturing environment.

Unhappiness among children and teenagers is often seen as being related to smartphone or social media use. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book The Anxious Generation suggests that there is a link between the rise in the use of smartphones by young people and an increase in youth mental health issues.

However, is very difficult to demonstrate a causal link between a specific aspect of modern life and a specific public health concern, as responses to Haidt’s book point out.

Yes, young people use smartphones more than previous generations. But they are also growing up in a world experiencing a global pandemic, visible climate change and international conflict. They’re being told they will never have a job because AI will be doing it instead, and that they’ll never own a house because of price inflation.

It is very difficult in these social contexts to isolate one factor and claim this is what is causing a rise in mental health issues among young people.

Large and rigorous peer reviewed studies have been conducted to explore the correlations between digital technology and children’s mental health. They rarely return a clear link. Some show positive correlations – use of digital tech leading to outcomes such as happiness, being treated with respect and positive learning experiences.

Source: The conversation
 
Do under 16's in the UK have the money to buy their own smartphones ?

It should be left to the parents. Not written into law.
 
Smart phones are destructive to childhoods and the impact of pornography and social media will leave a legacy that has started to filter through and will get much worse in the coming decades.
 
Australia already banned social media for under 16, I think other nations need to follow the suit
 
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