The House of Commons Education Committee believes stricter guidelines are needed on mobile phones in schools and how to manage children’s screen time at home to better protect them. The report argues that screen time is harmful to children’s mental and physical health, and that schools and parents need clear government guidance on the matter.
Earlier this year, the UK Ministry of Education issued guidance to principals on how to ban the use of phones not only during class, butć and during recess and lunch, and suggested allowing employees to search students and their bags for cell phones if necessary.
The Board of Education says that is not enough.
The report states that the next government should consult on raising the age of “digital consent” from 13 to 16, and should consider a complete ban on smartphones for under-16s, as well as a complete legal ban. cell phones in schools.
In doing so, they referred to the increase in time that children spend using mobile phones and in front of the screen, which leads to addictive behavior.
It is stated that between 2020 and 2022, there has been an increase in the time spent in front of screens by 52 percent, while a quarter say they use devices in an addictive way.
“Excessive use of screens and smartphones has a clear negative impact on the mental and physical well-being of children and young people,” said committee chairman Robin Walker.
“Without immediate action, more children will be at risk,” he added.
However, internet safety campaigner Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly killed herself after viewing harmful material on social media, said banning access to phones or social media would ” has caused more harm than good” and that it would “punish children for the failures of tech companies to protect them.”