The United Kingdom could ban smartphones for those under 16

When in March the national charity association Parentkind shared the results of a study on the correct use of smartphones, surveying the opinions of 2,496 parents in England about banning smartphones and social media in general, the findings were truly surprising. Among the survey's discoveries, it turns out that more than 8 in 10 parents (83%) believe smartphones are harmful to young people, and nearly 7 in 10 (69%) say limiting children's access to them would make parents' lives easier. These data – just a small part of those revealed in the survey, but enough to give an idea of the country's sentiment on the issue – have prompted ministers to consider implementing a ban on selling smartphones to children under 16. Despite Parentkind's survey being published just three weeks ago, the British government had already begun taking action, issuing guidelines on cellphone use in primary and secondary schools, as reported by The Guardian. In short, to make such a definitive and decisive decision, the government is seriously considering the results of various surveys, like that of the organization More in Common, where 64% of respondents believe selling smartphones to those under 16 would be a good idea.

The ban was already discussed in 2019 by the Tories: 72% were in favor, as were 61% of Labour Party voters. At the same time, the idea of a new ban disappoints some Conservative Party members today. A Tory government source described the idea as “out of touch with reality”, highlighting that “it’s not the government’s job to intervene and be a parent; instead, parents should be made more aware of how they can act. There are restrictions on websites and apps.” The UK government's suggestion will not immediately become law, but if the ban were to materialize one day, it would represent a fundamental sliding door for teenagers' lives. Banning children from accessing social media, following the legislative example of some American states, can have a radical impact on teenagers' lives and how they relate to others, but the issue becomes complex when technological devices are necessary for school tasks. It remains to be seen whether the "anti-smartphone" movement will spread like wildfire around the world.