Banning SM for under 16s

@Anonym00se yes it should be parents choice. Some unfortunately won't be 100% responsible in what they allow their under 16s to access - but that's their choice.

So under 16s can't phone their Granny for a chat, take photos, use homework apps, listen to music, order a takeaway, check when the next bus is due..... because they it's "illegal" for them to use a useful household item.

On the subject of homework apps, schools would no doubt have to take content offline, and encourage learning the old way.

We can’t stop kids from smoking/drinking/vaping/whatever in their own homes. No doubt some do, but responsible parents try to make sure that they don’t.

I don't know! There are some parents locally that are very militant about 'phone free childhood' and part of this campaign group and are trying to stop all access to phones for anyone under 16. I personally find them bossy, judgemental and a bit rigid if I'm honest.

I'm not too bothered about the phones. My children (13 and 11) have had phones since they were in year 4. They are excellently behaved kids, work hard at school (oldest is a straight A student), spend time out and about with friends, engage in sports and various clubs in their free time etc..

I don't believe that phones and social media are inherently bad. They just need careful monitoring. My oldest has a YouTube following and makes and edits excellent videos. He has his own discourse channel and his videos (largely animation and technical programmes) are amazing! There's no way I could make them!

My youngest makes 3D models on his 3D printer he sells to friends, he also has a YouTube channel and edits videos. He has recently started developing his own VR game which is unbelievably complicated to do, but I love that he's persevering.

My children have WhatsApp. There are restrictions and there are apps they are not allowed (youngest isn't allowed Snapchat for example, and I am linked to oldest's Snapchat account so see everything he posts and people send to him).

I think by supporting my children's exposure to IT and the online world in a supported and monitored way, I am setting them up well for a future full of tech. When they reach 16 and have full access to all the apps I know they will be safe and experienced online and I won't worry about them

I do wish groups like 'phone free childhood' would stop trying to dictate to the rest of us what we choose to do. My children benefit hugely from the online access they have. The skills they are learning in editing, animation, printing, photography and more are incredible. They are both very tech savvy and I'm proud of their achievements.

The online world isn't right for everyone and not every family will choose to allow phones or apps or whatever. But let's just all accept we parent differently and support each others choices!

Indeed !
Most people don't have landlines anymore so a smartphone in the house is just another regular item like the cooker or a kettle.
An ordinary household item that is used for lots of things (food orders, booking online appointments, any forms that need filling in etc....all done online via my smart phone.
Not allowing under 16s to use a fairly ordinary piece of household equipment would almost be impossible to do.
Plus how would many being able to access their homework apps without one?

I was meant to be there today. If anyone would like to join a future friendly protest PM me.

Same way we prevent them accessing other illegal stuff.

Or we should ban under 17's from driving. Oh, hang on........

I recently had to upload my ID to Roblox to prove my age regarding the parental controls on my daughter’s account, so it’s possible something like this could be implemented?

Parents just need to parent.

It's interesting how quickly things are changing.

I was called a "tech dragon" and "behind the times" on here less than 5 years ago because my kids aren't allowed their phones overnight, apps have to be approved on my phone and they weren't allowed Snapchat or Instagram underage.

My now post- uni age kids complained a lot at the time but are very vocal now that they're glad I was strict. They actually encourage even stricter rules for their younger siblings.

Its sort of like saying we should ban cars because some people speed.

How do they prevent kids accessing smart phones in their own home ?

Well they need to crack on. Every country does. No kid anywhere should have a smartphone until 16.

Nothing has actually been done in Australia yet beyond a vote.

They haven't even tested the age verification tech yet.

How would they police that ?and their couldn't arbitrarily ban them because children with type one diabetes for example usually need them ,as their CGM links up with the phone to alert them if their blood sugar is too high or low.

They've voted for a ban, but a lot of people are dubious as to how it will work.

Messaging platforms, so presumably WhatsApp, aren't included. WhatsApp is the biggest source of trouble in teens in my experience. It's where the bulk of any bullying happens.

I would ban the phones rather than the SM

Undoubtedly difficult to enforce, but I do think that we need to start making parents consider the effects of the internet, or more specifically smartphones, on their children. Not so long ago parents thought it was perfectly acceptable to smoke around children, until they were educated/forced to stop. I think that so many parents are addicted to their own screens that they normalise it in their own children.

It's already been done in other places, like Australia, so it's perfectly possible.

No smartphones until 16. They can have a dumb phone to text/call in emergencies.

It's beyond time that this happened. The evidence is in and it's clear that smartphones are ruining kids' lives and their chances of a happy future.

Aye for me.

Banning it won't make parents who already let their kids have age inappropriate apps not buy them a phone and fiddle the age.

While I agree that for some kids, it’s become an addiction and there are clearly a lot of issues around it, I just don’t see how it can be policed. Those parents who don’t limit it now still won’t. Kids are smart, they will find a way round whatever restrictions are in place. The surest way to make something more desirable is to ‘ban’ it.

I think there are far more important things that the government should be looking at tbh.