Should kids have smartphones? Nearly a quarter of UK children aged 5-7 have the mobile device

BRISTOL: More parents and educators in Britain are pushing to restrict younger children from having access to smartphones amid concerns over cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and mental health. 

There are also fears that dependence on mobile phones could affect their ability to communicate and concentrate in future, said observers. 

BANNING PHONE SALES TO CHILDREN UNDER 16

This comes as nearly a quarter of five- to seven-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone, according to communications regulator OFCOM. 

A third of children in this age group use social media unsupervised, OFCOM found. An increasing number also have their own profiles on social media platforms despite being too young. 

Dr Benjamin Knight, senior lecturer in education at the University of the West of England Bristol, believes the pace of technological change is an issue when it comes to parents controlling their children’s online presence.

“I think that rapid change, over what is just a few decades, has meant that we, as a society, are building the plane whilst flying it,” said Dr Knight, a father of two who was also a primary school teacher for more than a decade.

“In many ways, this is a live experiment. And a great many teachers, a great many parents and perhaps a great many policymakers as well, feel as though the grown-ups are struggling to catch up with the pace of change.”

The UK government is reportedly considering banning the sale of smartphones to children younger than 16. 

A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment, but noted that the government has recently backed head teachers who prohibit phone use during the school day.