Plans to cut down on children’s smartphone use have been revealed as figures show pre-schoolers spend 21 hours a week on their smartphones.
Proposals include raising the internet “adult” age from 13 to 16 to protect children from addictive content.
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Guidance on smartphone-free schools will be enshrined in law, along with further rules on the design, supply and marketing of mobile phones, as appropriate.
Regulator Ofcom will be given special powers to prevent children from being exposed to apps and services it considers harmful.
This follows research showing that the average 12-year-old spends 21 hours a week on their smartphone.
The measures, aimed at protecting children from excessive screen time, are contained in a private member’s bill introduced by Labor MP Josh McAllister.
The former teacher, who has bipartisan support, said: “There is growing evidence that children doomscrolling for hours a day is causing widespread harm.
“It’s hard enough for adults to manage screen time, so why would we expect children to manage this addictive content without common rules?
“Parents are finding themselves in an impossible predicament: ban their children from social media or expose them to content harm and addiction.
“Other countries are taking bold action and our children are at risk of being left behind.”
Anne Longfield, Director of the Center for Young Lives, said:
“Many children spend too much time scrolling through social media apps from an early age, and we know how harmful prolonged addictive smartphone use can be. Masu.”
