Smart Phones

I remember reading once that Steve Jobs was so concerned about access to the internet for children that he denied access to his daughter.
I can’t remember how old she was at the time, but he wrote a very compelling piece about the potential harm to children.

I am so relieved smart phones weren't around in my DC childhoods. One daughter would have been glued to hers night and day.
I sympathize with some of today's parents. Their lives are a lot harder than my life was for many reasons. Smart phones one of many problems.

I think technology is moving faster than our laws ever can.

My adult GCs all have those Apple Watches. They sit vibrating and pinging with calls and texts coming in via those things.🙄

And they reply via them.

If the phones are banned, they will just get the watches.

I agree Marmin. That horse has definitely bolted and the genie is well and truly out of the bottle! Too late to ban, but phones should be locked away during the school day. Students of all ages should be warned of the dangers of the internet like we were warned by the local policeman of the dangers of the railway line. And parents brought up to date on the dangers as well via the schoo,l but not necessarily by school staff. If the government are supporting this or trying to enforce this, then well informed outside resources must be employed.

There will always be a hopefully minority of parents who don't care, but the majority do. And grandparents as well.

This particular ship sailed decades ago.

MissAdventure

A smart phone is the obvious choice as a cheap way of accessing online essentials.

Children don’t have credit cards to buy online

A smart phone is the obvious choice as a cheap way of accessing online essentials.

MissAdventure

Ofcom estimate that between 1.14m and 1.78m children in total in the UK have no home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet.

Your right and that shortage was highlighted during Covid, MissAdventure.
Weird idea to ban smartphones for anyone younger than 15 years, 11 months, 28/29/30/or 31 days, when 16s may soon be considered mature enough to vote.
Phones are already a target for theft. Would that increase if parents did refuse to buy them?

Should cigarettes be on sale to 9 year olds then? Might it be possible to have laws alongside a cultural shift do you think? Which is what happened with cigarettes and drink driving.

Katie590

Glorianny

But if parents don't know about the phone how will they be paying the bill? And before anyone says the cost would be too much my current phone deal costs £6 a month, for texts, calls and 4G. Well within most 15 year old's budget.

To get a phone you need a credit card account so children wouldn’t be able to get one that way.

No doubt means would be found if they were banned. Or do you think 15 and 16 year olds don't vape or use drugs? Illegality does not stop use. It simply means children get involved in criminality.

Ofcom estimate that between 1.14m and 1.78m children in total in the UK have no home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet.

Glorianny

But if parents don't know about the phone how will they be paying the bill? And before anyone says the cost would be too much my current phone deal costs £6 a month, for texts, calls and 4G. Well within most 15 year old's budget.

To get a phone you need a credit card account so children wouldn’t be able to get one that way.

But if parents don't know about the phone how will they be paying the bill? And before anyone says the cost would be too much my current phone deal costs £6 a month, for texts, calls and 4G. Well within most 15 year old's budget.

Phones are phones, are phones to me.

I couldnt tell the difference between brands, whether they're smart or not.

anyway, i don't know much about all this.
i only have a basic phone, and use a laptop for internetting.
i hardly ever use my phone, so don't want to waste money on a smartphone.
i have to be reminded by vodafone to use it every 3 months, or i will lose my number.
now, that reminds me... must send a text to somebody, to keep it active.
texts are cheaper than calls which are over one pound now, just to connect.
i haven't topped it up for over a year, have about £30 credit on it.

Ive always thought smart phones were the work of the devil!

I managed with an old dumb phone for many years but had to get one when my security system would not run on a tablet. Now Ive had to get used to the smartphone since the landline went digital because in the event of a power cut there would be no phone. The smartphone is also useful on the odd occasions the broadband goes down as I can use it as a hot spot. But I still dont trust it.

Im really glad there were no smart phones when I was employed as I dont like to be "always available".

but parents are paying the bill, so they should be able to have some control.
they could have the teen's phone linked to their own, so that they can see how it is being used.
as well as setting all appropriate restrictions.

Katie590

As I said some will break the rules but it’s easy to tell a smart phone from a basic phone and the will only be able to communicate with other rule breakers so any harm will be limited. Parents know exactly what phone the children are using, if they choose to condone that they take the responsibility for harm caused.

Golly do you really think parents know exactly what their 15 year old is doing?
My DS's recently told me about the things they used to get up to with my dad when mum and I went shopping. And they were younger than 15. All harmless fun, but a bit naughtier than usual and they all kept it quiet.

MissAdventure

My boy has his older brothers "old" one each time there's an upgrade, which is all the time, it seems.

I bought my first "new" phone (second hand) recently. All the others I've had have been hand-me-downs from my DSs!!!

As I said some will break the rules but it’s easy to tell a smart phone from a basic phone and the will only be able to communicate with other rule breakers so any harm will be limited. Parents know exactly what phone the children are using, if they choose to condone that they take the responsibility for harm caused.

My boy has his older brothers "old" one each time there's an upgrade, which is all the time, it seems.

Katie590

Most 14-16 yr old dont have the money to buy a smartphone, they are given them by parents, they don’t need to navigate their way either, they are not a good choice for schoolwork either.
A few would try to get them early but if they are given a basic phone at 10 yrs most would have no option.

I think you underestimate the ingenuity of teens. Smart phones are being constantly upgraded and people renew them regularly. There is a thriving second hand market in them. Teens know this. Just as they find the money for vapes, fags, booze and drugs they'll find it for phones and buy second hand.
So no parent will know. Which means there will be secret and unmonitored usage.
And of course if they are caught they will be criminals. Although our over -stretched police will probably just ignore things.

They're the only choice for schoolwork for some.

Most 14-16 yr old dont have the money to buy a smartphone, they are given them by parents, they don’t need to navigate their way either, they are not a good choice for schoolwork either.
A few would try to get them early but if they are given a basic phone at 10 yrs most would have no option.

My phone is invaluable. It's guided me round many places, helped me find public transport and enabled me to book tickets for loads of things. The maps and guide books I used to have to cart round are no longer needed. Nor is a camera.