Can you really make phones illegal for under 16s?

My understanding is that they are talking about smartphones, and that basic phones will continue to be legal for all.

Well we managed to get through school without them Glorianny and our children managed to get through school without them so I really don’t see why we have to know they are on their way home do we ?
Is there already a thread about this I thought I saw one earlier?

It is hard to turn the clock back.

It is. And so much now relies on access to the Internet that it seems unreasonable to expect 15 year olds to do without it. I don’t know- it’s a good idea to try to reduce the harm that unfettered access can cause, but I’m rarely in favour of ‘banning’ things as a solution to complex problems. It’s a knee-jerk approach that doesn’t get to the root of problems. In this case, all it would do is defer them, and would risk criminalising a lot of young people for not complying. What’s the point?

There's already another thread about this...
www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1336566-Smart-Phones

I would rather the new Cyber Security Bill (I think that’s the correct name) was enforced and the likes of meta, instagram, Snapchat etc were policed with more rigour.

Utilise safeguarding software, prosecute those peddling their wares on the so called dark web .

All the above are possible, no need to ban smartphones for under 16’s, as they have far more positive uses than negative ones.

The Proposal is “smart phones” there is another thread in the same topic

I agree with GrannyGravy13. Smartphones do have their uses for under 16's but the dark web needs constant supervision and sites being taken down far more rapidly than at present. My grandchildren have parental control locks on their phones so they are unable to access certain sites that are inappropriate.

Can you really make phones illegal for under 16s? No, it was simply criminalise a lot of children and their parents.

It would, not it was!

But banning smart phones for 16 year olds is a much easier suggestion than trying to tackle the dark web, the porn, the scams etc. which is what really needs doing.

It would be impossible to enforce.

Mollygo

But banning smart phones for 16 year olds is a much easier suggestion than trying to tackle the dark web, the porn, the scams etc. which is what really needs doing.

Policing the dark web should be a priority, 17+ can be just as vulnerable as 16’s and under.

Why punish young people rather than the platforms peddling their rubbish

I've asked GNHQ if they can merge the two threads. Hope it helps

It hard to turn the clock back , but not impossible. I would back the ban on smart phones for under 16 s. By all means they may have a phone to make phone calls , text , or what's app. But unrestricted access to the Internet is destroying the lives of many children.

What about smartware installed on their phones that limits what they can access.

I am not talking about parental controls, but software that is part of the operating system which is hardwired in, so that at 16, to get the full access to the internet, they would need a different phone.

However, stopping children usingtheir phones to do something means that they will simply access it in different ways - on ipads, tablets, laptops etc, plus having access through an adult's phone, their parents, grandparents or other adults.

Glorianny

Apparently the education select committee have advised that the next government should make it illegal to own a phone until a child is 16. Is this really possible or even advisable? My 11 year old GD uses hers to let us know if she is out of school late, or just on her way home. She isn't allowed to use it in school but it gives her a little independence whilst reassuring us she is safe.

Glorianny I'm not sure why children can't use a dumb phone to let someone know they are on the way? Is dumb good enough?

My husband uses a dumb phone calling our land line, whilst away (we've no reception for dumb or smart phone to call out from our property).

Norah

Glorianny

Apparently the education select committee have advised that the next government should make it illegal to own a phone until a child is 16. Is this really possible or even advisable? My 11 year old GD uses hers to let us know if she is out of school late, or just on her way home. She isn't allowed to use it in school but it gives her a little independence whilst reassuring us she is safe.

Glorianny I'm not sure why children can't use a dumb phone to let someone know they are on the way? Is dumb good enough?

My husband uses a dumb phone calling our land line, whilst away (we've no reception for dumb or smart phone to call out from our property).

They could but the other feature of a smart phone which many parents use is the ability to locate the phone if the child is missing or (when older than my DGD) needs to be monitored in some way.

Glorianny

Norah

Glorianny

Apparently the education select committee have advised that the next government should make it illegal to own a phone until a child is 16. Is this really possible or even advisable? My 11 year old GD uses hers to let us know if she is out of school late, or just on her way home. She isn't allowed to use it in school but it gives her a little independence whilst reassuring us she is safe.

Glorianny I'm not sure why children can't use a dumb phone to let someone know they are on the way? Is dumb good enough?

My husband uses a dumb phone calling our land line, whilst away (we've no reception for dumb or smart phone to call out from our property).

They could but the other feature of a smart phone which many parents use is the ability to locate the phone if the child is missing or (when older than my DGD) needs to be monitored in some way.

Yes, this is a good aspect of smart phones.

BlueBelle

Well we managed to get through school without them Glorianny and our children managed to get through school without them so I really don’t see why we have to know they are on their way home do we ?
Is there already a thread about this I thought I saw one earlier?

I agree with you, you’d think the child had to negotiate a croc invested river, run through a Colombian drug dealers den and cross a six lane highway to get home.
In any case a basic pay as you go phone would still be allowed.

Also we are rubbish at calculating risk, whilst we worry about not being able to walk home without a phone, we are ignoring the data on mental health, lack of relationships, etc.

What will happen if teens do not have phones is that parents will return to not permitting children any freedom. They will pick them up in cars and drop them off at school. The concept that we managed when we were young is just plain ridiculous. The world changes. Children have risks we never imagined and their parents know it. That's why they allow them smart phones.
As for relationships phones properly used can increase interactions and keep people in touch. I have several WhatsApp groups which help me keep in touch with people all over the country. Some of them near me I see regularly and we use our phones to fix up meetings and share events we want to go to.
My DGD has set up a family group which keeps us all in touch.

That's not what the data is showing for young people I am afraid, lack of relationships, anxiety (specifically for girls as they use social media in a different way) with boys its porn and other issues, but am sure it will be fine.
It's worth noting that lots of the very wealthy tech lot dont let their children anywhere near social media etc.

A basic pay as you go for making calls is all that’s needed.
It’s not saying that they can’t have an iPad or computer at home.Doing this may save young lives and a whole lot of misery.