UK parents call for restrictions on smartphone use for under-14s

Accordingly, this online pledge was initiated by a UK-based grassroots organization called 'Smartphone Free Childhood' and has received widespread support from parents across the UK. To date, many parents in 6,537 schools, representing nearly 35,000 children, have joined this online pledge.

This means that thousands of families have pledged to limit smartphone use for children under 14. With a total of 32,000 schools nationwide, the movement is gradually spreading and creating a positive wave in protecting children's childhoods from the negative effects of technology.

This commitment is made with the aim of ensuring the healthy and comprehensive development of children. Delaying the purchase of smartphones until the end of grade 9 will give children enough time to practice necessary life skills, form the habit of reading, exercising and communicating directly with friends. At the same time, this also helps protect children from the negative effects of using phones too early, such as phone addiction, affecting health and learning results.

Daisy Greenwell, one of the group’s founders, said the pledge aims to create a consensus among parents so that children no longer feel isolated without smartphones like other children. Instead, using ‘brick’ phones that only allow texting and calling will become a new trend, helping children focus on other activities and develop more comprehensively.

“Peer pressure will instantly disappear if your child knows that their classmates will also be getting a ‘brick’ phone, not a smartphone,” adds Daisy Greenwell. “The ultimate goal is to change the way parents think about smartphones.”

A recent study by the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom found an alarming figure: 89% of 12-year-olds own a smartphone. This figure reflects the dramatic increase in children’s access to mobile technology in recent years. In just a few years, smartphones have become an integral part of most children’s daily lives.

Despite its commitment to protecting participants' personal information, the organization is still collecting data on the number of signups in each area and school. This information will be compiled and published on the organization's website on Thursday, to help people better understand the scale of the movement.

Hertfordshire is leading the charge to curb smartphone use among children, with 2,429 parents signing the pledge. The impressive figure puts the county at the centre of the movement, particularly St Albans, which is aiming to become the first UK city to implement a smartphone-free policy for all under-14s.

The campaign is not limited to Hertfordshire, with the campaign spreading to neighbouring areas such as south-west London and Hampshire, with more than 1,700 and 1,500 parents signing up respectively. Ms Greenwell added that the group is planning to create WhatsApp groups to connect parents who have signed the pledge in each area, allowing them to share experiences and support each other.

With growing concerns about the negative impact of smartphones and social media on children’s development, Ms Greenwell and fellow parent Fernyhough decided to take action. Last February, they set up a WhatsApp group to support parents who wanted to limit their children’s smartphone use. In a short time, the community has grown to over 150,000 members, demonstrating a growing consensus on the issue.

Jonathan Haidt, an American social psychologist and author of the influential book “The Anxious Generation,” told The Guardian that parents should set a “new norm” by delaying giving their children smartphones until they are at least 16.

Although most social media platforms require users to be over 13, Ofcom research shows that this is not strictly enforced, with half of children under 13 using social media. This raises big questions about the responsibility of parents and policymakers to protect children from the negative effects of technology.