Smartphone Access Debated at Multiple UK Community Events

A growing movement among parents and educators in the U.S. and U.K. is pushing to limit children's smartphone use due to concerns about mental health, distraction, and cyberbullying. In Surrey, a campaign group called Smartphone Free Childhood advocates for banning smartphones for children under 14 and encourages parents to sign a pact to delay giving smartphones to their children, with support from thousands of signees and school officials. Similarly, Weld RE-4 School District in Colorado is hosting virtual town halls to discuss new state legislation requiring schools to implement student cell phone policies by 2026, aiming to address the negative effects of social media on youth mental health. Schools and education departments emphasize restricting or banning mobile phone use in classrooms to reduce distractions and promote learning, with many schools already enforcing such policies. Events like the one held in West Sussex, England, bring together parents, educators, and experts to discuss the harms of unrestricted smartphone use and promote collective action to protect children's well-being. Meanwhile, some parents in Maine are reviving the use of landline phones at home to teach children basic communication skills lost in the texting era.