Children and Phones - Smart or not so smart?
Posted 8 October 2024
Be honest, do you struggle with spending too much time on your smartphone? Streaming content? Doom-scrolling? Posting updates? Maybe you’re reading this blog on your phone right now, if you are – don’t stop yet!
As adults, most of us would probably admit to using our smartphones a LOT, but the reality is we’re likely amateurs compared to the amount of time children and teenagers spend staring at the friendly glowing screen each day.
Smartphone use by under 16s has been a hot topic in the news so far this year and the debates around it show no sign of dropping off any time soon. So, what’s the big deal? The problem is that friendly glowing screen can offer so much and yet, it isn’t always so friendly.
If you have children or young people in your care, is it smart, or not so smart to let them have a smartphone?
At the turn of the year, Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna met with the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, calling for special smartphones to be made for children under 16 which would be unable to access social media. Around the same time, two Primary School parents, started a WhatsApp group called Smartphone Free Childhood, which garnered 1,000 members in its first 24 hours alone.
With Ofcom figures revealing nine in ten 11 year olds today own a mobile phone (including nearly a quarter of 5 to 7s!), the perils of young minds viewing adult, dangerous or otherwise unsuitable material online are widespread. The Online Safety Act 2023 put the onus onto social media companies to remove illegal or harmful content and perform age-checks on platform users. However, Ofcom also reports that over half of children under 13 have used social media, seemingly making a mockery of these requirements.
Is it all doom and gloom then? Not for us. Yes, there are dangers out there for children using smartphones.
Addiction, cyber-bullying, laziness, and sleep problems can all arise from phone use in addition to accessing unsuitable content. However, there is a case for the defence as well. For foster children especially, smartphones can give them valuable access to friends and maybe family they have had to leave behind – preventing them from feeling isolated and improving mental health. The wealth of information smartphones provide can be really beneficial, helping with education, inspiration, coping and entertainment.
Creating content for social media can also be a great self-esteem boost, encourage interests and help to build skills. So, what’s the answer? Well, that’s up to you.
Only you know your child with their individual characteristics and circumstances. Broadly speaking though, we’d recommend setting healthy boundaries on smartphone use, such as time or app limits. Also, be careful to utilise parental settings and where possible regularly check your child’s phone usage. Finally, teach your child phone safety regarding passwords, over-sharing and Ceops. Talk all these things through together and try to agree decisions with joint input.
Smartphone use has the potential to harm children and young people, but also to help them and the debate is not over yet.
For now, we hope we’ve given you enough information for a more informed decision. If you want to talk through anything further, please contact us. Via smartphone or otherwise.