Smart Phones

I stopped teaching nearly 20 years ago and had a boy aged 7 years who had a computer and internet access in his bedroom. He was very bright and no doubt would before he was much older have managed to bypass any restrictions his parents put on his usage. He didn't need a mobile phone. The internet is available on many devices.

Yep, I agree, but having access to a phone means that the novelty wears off, in my opinion.

They end up using them just to phone, text, and shop, much the same as anyone else.

MissAdventure

That's the attraction, I think.

It is indeed the attraction and once they have got round the parental controls, the internet is a pretty bad place for a naive teen.

That's the attraction, I think.

Children are sensitive and not prepared for all kinds of information available on the internet. Unmonitored usage can lead to accidental or deliberate access to shocking, unfiltered, or harmful content on the net which can adversely affect the child's mindset. He/she might end up feeling scared, shocked, confused, etc

Parental choice is very much a double edged sword, you give us choice but some will make the wrong choice for the wrong reason.

Just like school uniform, decisions need to be made in everyone’s best interest, smart phones is one of those.

You can’t tell parents what to do for their children. I’ve seen parents supplying fish and chips when a school went for healthy school dinners, parents supporting their children’s rule breaking, etc. Some parents would be grateful for the rule and the strategy you suggest, others would be on Mumsnet saying AIBU to want the right to choose for my child.

It's not the phones that need to be banned it's the message apps ie FB and FB messenger, snap chat X and Instagram etc.
All it would need would be for the makers to install a chip that can't be activated by children, only adults. And confiscate it with parental fines if a child is caught using one under 16

16 year olds are either children or adults. Half of them are not even allowed to go out on their own without bring tracked by helicopter parents. No way are they old enough to vote. However with the correct monitoring, 12 years olds and upwards do probably need smartphones but NOT in school.

Dumb phones are definitely a good idea for under 16s, but then there might be a black market demand for smart ones.
Phones are certainly a cause of ‘poor mental health’ amongst children. They need to go outside in the fresh air, socialise and just play out!! It’s not rocket science!
I sometimes disappear down a rabbit hole on my phone (especially on Vinted🙄) and then realise how much time I’ve wasted.😵‍💫
Phones (i.e. the Internet) are useful but they can be addictive. Remember when they were just for making a call?! 😂

My DGD has her Mum's old mobile and it is checked by her parents regularly. It's useful if she needs picking up early or needs help at all. There is a tracking app that allows my DD to know where she is if out with friends.

As others have said, the likes of Meta and co. need to do more to police what goes on on their platforms. The genie is out of the bottle and no amount of pushing will get it back in!!

I use a simple phone from TTFone - I had brick phones as a kid and would buy my kids brick phones too.

I have no real need for a smartphone.

Whiteanemone

My grandsons school acted on the advice. From the end of half term ( next Sunday) mobile phones are banned whilst the pupils are on school premises. They must be switched off and put in your school bag. Not to taken out unless told to do so by a teacher. Ban also applies to teaching staff!

That's a reasonable, realistic enough rule.

Whiteanemone

My grandsons school acted on the advice. From the end of half term ( next Sunday) mobile phones are banned whilst the pupils are on school premises. They must be switched off and put in your school bag. Not to taken out unless told to do so by a teacher. Ban also applies to teaching staff!

That's exactly what happens in my GD's school. It's a practical and workable policy. Banning them from under 16s completely isn't.

If this Bill sees the light of day and is approved, I wonder how they intend to police it, and what will they do about the under 16’s who already have a smartphone?

I can imagine the stress for parents when younger siblings are told that although their elder siblings have smartphones they cannot.

I still advocate for better policing of platforms and their content above banning smartphones for under 16’s.

Everything they can access on a smartphone can also be accessed on an iPad, tablet, laptop or computer…

My grandsons school acted on the advice. From the end of half term ( next Sunday) mobile phones are banned whilst the pupils are on school premises. They must be switched off and put in your school bag. Not to taken out unless told to do so by a teacher. Ban also applies to teaching staff!

Cossy

Germanshepherdsmum

Who is proposing to ban them?

I agree they should be put away safely during the school day, but it’s important that children have a means of contacting a parent or guardian on the way to and from school.

A group of parents very worried about online abuse spoke with their MP I believe

The Education Select Committee which reported just as the election was called recommended that the next government which ever party was in power banned smart phones for under 16s. So it isn't just parents.

My daughter has had to deal with content requests for a smart phone from my GD who is 10. The answer is always not yet. Already several of her friends at school have one.
She is obsessed with her iPad and can’t wait to finish a meal so that she can get back to it…. mostly watching trashy short videos on YouTube watching people unwrap boxes of things they have bought online!! It’s time limited and a constant battle/ trade off for my daughter. After discussion with my daughter I got her a basic phone so she can contact her mother when she’s at her father’s.

If they were legally banned that would give a lot of support to parents who are concerned. They could then say no without having to be the bad guy.

Having worked many years in a GE College I’m very aware how disruptive students having smart phones can be, however I don’t advocate a total ban, in part because students often need to search the internet for their studies (sadly not every classroom has computers and those that do often not enough for each student to use individually)
What I think would work is each classroom having Localised jamming facilities but that again comes down to funding
It’s easy to say tell students not to use their phones in class, but with a belligerent 6ft 16yr old that’s easier said than done

Storm in a teacup then Cossy.

Curtaintwitcher

No, I don't think they should be actually banned but I think people should be encouraged to be less dependant on them. I keep saying the same thing....it only takes a power cut or for the internet to go down and everything grinds to a halt.
The more we rely on technology, the more vulnerable we are.
What concerns me most is the way young people are influenced by the internet. Parents should encourage their children to discuss things with them more, so that they are fully aware of what they are being exposed to.

I completely agree

Germanshepherdsmum

Who is proposing to ban them?

I agree they should be put away safely during the school day, but it’s important that children have a means of contacting a parent or guardian on the way to and from school.

A group of parents very worried about online abuse spoke with their MP I believe

Actually, it's not the phones that cause issues. People don't know how to set up security properly. And some apps should be linked to security so as not to be available.

So at 16 years of age a young person could be allowed to vote but not own a smartphone at 16 years less one day?

Aldom. My sixteen year old daughter rang her school friend from 4.00 till 5.30 or later everyday until I got home from work. The bill was shocking!! Prime time and not like now with a minutes package from BT.