Children spending hours ‘doom scrolling’ on smartphones daily are at risk of widespread harm, warns a Member of Parliament. Josh MacAlister, a former teacher, is set to introduce a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament this week aimed at addressing the addictive nature of phone use among young people. The proposed legislation is likened to “seatbelt” laws to regulate children’s social media use effectively.
MacAlister’s Bill seeks to empower families and teachers to help children reduce their daily screen time and advocates for all schools in England to become mobile-free zones. Despite previous non-statutory guidance from the former Conservative government discouraging mobile phone use during school hours, the new bill highlights the pressing need for stricter regulations. The age at which companies can collect data from children without parental consent may also be raised from 13 to 16 to combat smartphone addiction.
The legislation further includes proposals to enhance Ofcom’s authority to shield children from addictive apps and commits the Government to review the regulation on mobile phone design, supply, marketing, and usage by children under 16 if necessary. MacAlister stresses the urgency of addressing the harmful effects of excessive screen time on children’s well-being and calls for a national conversation on the issue in the UK.
Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, a former education secretary, acknowledges the alarming impact of smartphones on children and supports the Bill. Pepe Di’lasio, from the Association of School and College Leaders, deems smartphone use a public health emergency for young people, emphasizing the need for regulatory action beyond parental and school intervention. Joe Ryrie, co-founder of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, echoes the call for stronger regulations to protect children from addictive online content.
Commenting on the upcoming debate on the issue, a Government spokesperson highlights the upcoming Online Safety Act’s provisions to safeguard children from harmful online content. While acknowledging that most schools already effectively manage mobile phone use, the spokesperson cautions against an outright ban, citing the importance of school autonomy. The evolving conversation around children’s digital safety and well-being calls for a comprehensive regulatory approach to ensure a healthy online environment for young users.