British ministers are considering a ban on the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 16, following significant public support for such a move, according to The Guardian. A survey conducted by the Barnardo's charity in March, which included 2,496 parents of school-aged children in England, found that 58% of respondents believe the government should ban smartphones for those under 16. Additionally, the study showed that around 4 in 5 parents felt smartphones are "harmful" to children and young people.
Two months ago, the government issued guidelines regarding mobile phone use in English schools, but it has been suggested that further restrictions are put in place to better protect children after several public campaigns. Another survey by More in Common revealed that 64% of people think imposing a ban on selling smartphones to those under 16 would be a good idea, compared to 20% who said it would be a bad idea.
A source from the Conservative government described the idea as "unrealistic," indicating that "it is not the government's role" to intervene in the parent-child relationship management. The source, who was not named, added: "We aim to make parents more aware of the powers they have, such as restrictions on websites and apps, as well as using parental control applications." They noted that "only in extreme cases can the government be a better parent than actual parents and guardians."
In this context, a government spokesperson stated: "We do not comment on speculation. Our commitment to making the UK the safest place for children online is unwavering, as evidenced by our historic Online Safety Bill."
