Legislator introduces bill prohibiting smartphones in schools
In light of growing evidence that children spend hours ‘doom scrolling’ each day, former teacher Josh MacAlister expressed concern over the widespread harm this behavior may cause.
A Private Members’ Bill introduced by a Labour MP aims to make all schools in England smartphone-free to help children reduce their screen time.
Josh MacAlister, the MP for Whitehaven and Woking, will present the bill, which also seeks to raise the age for gaining data consent without parental authority from 13 to 16 and empower Ofcom to protect children from addictive apps. The bill may also prompt the government to review regulations on smartphones for under-16s.
The previous Conservative government had issued non-statutory guidelines on mobile phone use in schools in February.
‘Doom Scrolling’
MacAlister, a former teacher who led a review on children’s social care, emphasized the need for measures similar to ‘seatbelt’ legislation to regulate social media use for kids to combat the harmful effects of doom scrolling.
He highlighted that many countries worldwide are taking steps to limit children’s phone usage and urged the UK to engage in a national debate on the matter.
Various jurisdictions globally are implementing bans or restrictions on phone use in schools.
Smartphone Addiction
Backing the bill, former Education Secretary Kit Malthouse underscored the alarming evidence linking smartphones to negative effects on children, supporting the need for clearer expectations from providers and regulators.
