Strong screentime curbs, including a phone ban for under-16s, may be needed to stop the ‘shocking’ harm being done to children, MPs have warned.
Studies show that around a quarter of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction.
Meanwhile screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age, with one in five children aged between three and four owning a mobile phone.
In a report, the House of Commons Education Committee has warned the risks of screentime significantly outweigh the benefits for children, and MPs are now calling for radical solutions to protect young people.
They argue screentime should be minimal for younger children and better balanced with face-to-face socialisation and physical activity for older ones.
Studies show that around a quarter of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction
Meanwhile screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age, with one in five children aged between three and four owning a mobile phone
They cite research that has found it can take up to 20 minutes for pupils to refocus on what they were learning after browsing the internet or clicking on a notification on their phone.
Excessive smartphone use can affect young people’s memory, concentration and attention span, as well as exposing them to online pornography, violence and the risk of grooming.
Within the first year of the new Parliament, the next Government should work alongside Ofcom to consult on additional measures regarding smartphone use for children under 16 years old, they said.
This includes the possibility of parental controls installed as default for phone for under-16s, or even an outright ban on smartphones for this age group.
Mobile phone companies and network operators should work with the next Government to promote phones specifically designed for children, which can be used for contact and GPS location but not to access the internet or download apps, they added.
Parents also need clear guidance from the Government on managing the amount of time their children spend on their phone, they said.
Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and Chair of the Education Committee, said: ‘Excessive screen and smartphone use has a clear negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young people.
Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and Chair of the Education Committee, said: ‘Excessive screen and smartphone use has a clear negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young people’
‘Our inquiry heard shocking statistics on the extent of the damage being done to under-18s, particularly those who are already extremely vulnerable, such as those in care.
‘Without urgent action, more children will be put in harm’s way. From exposure to pornography, to criminal gangs using online platforms to recruit children, the online world poses serious dangers.
‘Parents and schools face an uphill struggle and Government must do more to help them meet this challenge. This might require radical steps, such as potentially a ban on smartphones for under-16s.
‘It’s also clear that children require face-to-face and in-person social contact in order to thrive.
‘Our report found that screen time is inversely associated with working memory, processing, attention levels, language skills and executive function.
‘Whilst there can be some benefits from the online world and sharing information or interests with their peers, ready, unsupervised and unrestricted access to the internet leaves children vulnerable, exposing them to a world they are not equipped for.’
Separate research has found that there was a 52 per cent increase in children’s screen time during the Covid pandemic.
Meanwhile the amount of time those aged 5-15 years old spent online rose form an average of nine hours per week in 2009 to 15 hours per week in 2018.
One in five children aged 10-15 have said they experienced at least one type of bullying behaviour online, while 79 per cent of children have encountered violent pornography online before the age of 18.
Earlier this year the Government announced a crackdown on mobile phones in schools, confirming a plan to ban their use during the school day.