One in four children between the ages of 5 and 7 own a smartphone. By the age of 11 this figure rises to nine out of ten.
This Council Motion from Cumberland Liberal Democrats calls on more protections to be given to young children who access the social media, apps and the internet on their smartphones.
This Council notes:
- According to Ofcom data, nearly one in four children aged 5 to 7 now own a smartphone, and by the age of 11, this figure rises to nine out of ten.
- A growing body of evidence demonstrates the harmful impact of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health, sleep, and learning.
- Excessive screen time detracts from opportunities for real-life play and social interactions, creating challenges for parents, young people, teachers, and society.
- Vulnerable children are disproportionately affected, exacerbating existing inequalities in mental health and development.
This Council believes:
- Legislative action is necessary to ensure technology companies prioritise children’s well-being and safety in their product designs.
- Leading health professionals believe that smartphones and social media platforms have been designed with features that can foster addictive behaviour, making it harder for children to self-regulate their usage.
- Families, schools, and communities need greater support and tools to manage children’s screen time effectively and protect them from digital harm.
This Council resolves to:
- Fully engage with the work Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister is doing on his Private Members Bill on the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill. In particular raising the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16 strengthening Ofcom’s powers to protect children.
- Write to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and to local MPs, urging them to advocate for swift action to address the harmful impacts of smartphones and social media on children.
- Support local schools who have adopted their own policies to ban the use of mobile phones, and work with schools to promote safer internet use with both parents and pupils.
- Work with local partners to identify additional measures the Council can take to support children and families in navigating the digital environment safely and healthily.
This Council further calls on:
- Technology companies to take responsibility for designing safer, less addictive digital products for children, in line with the goals of the proposed legislation.
- The Government to ensure to include safer phones for children as part of a broader commitment to protecting children’s mental health and well-being in the digital age.