A Cumbrian MP’s bill aiming to make phone use safer for children and teens has been debated in Parliament.
The Safer Phones Bill, put forward by Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister, went to the House of Commons for its second reading on Friday.
It marked Parliament’s first opportunity to debate its principles before deciding whether the bill should proceed further.
The bill was first put forward in October and initially sought to legally ban smartphones in schools and give Ofcom stronger powers to prevent children from exposure to apps and online services described as addictive by design.
But while the bill has cross-party backing and support from several top child protection charities, it has since been watered down to gain Government support.
Plans to legally ban smartphones in schools have been dropped from the legislation, with supporters now hoping the focus will instead centre on raising the age at which children can create social media accounts and on powers to protect children from addictive apps.
The bill will now commit the Government to research the issue further rather than pushing for immediate change.
Its new proposed legislation will also commit the Government to come back within a year on the question of raising the digital age of consent from 13 to 16.
It will further commit UK Chief Medical Officers to update and reissue guidance for parents and professionals about the impacts of excessive screen time and social media use on children.
It will finally call on the Government to further develop the evidence and guidance that is important for future action.
Digital Minister Sir Chris Bryant commended Mr MacAlister for bringing the bill forward and leading the debate.
The Minister agreed that excessive smartphone usage is detrimental to the physical and mental health of children and young people and confirmed that the Government intends to deliver on the recommendations made in the bill.
He added: “There is no option of inaction for this House or for this country. There has to be action.”
The debate also saw Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, a former Education Secretary, step forward and state that he believed the watering down of the bill to be the ‘gutting of what could have been a landmark bill’.
He added that parents are ‘screaming for help’ and assistance from the Government and that the UK is currently allowing ‘smoking for the brain’ in its youngest of children.
The debate on the bill has now been adjourned until 11 July.
Research suggests that the average 12 year old now spends 21 hours a week on a smartphone. That is the equivalent of four full days of school teaching time per week.
It has also found that around 93 per cent of 12 to 15 year olds are active social media users. For 76 per cent of 11 to 18 year olds, most of their free time is now spent on screens.
Mr MacAlister called this a fundamental rewiring of childhood itself.
He added: “When I launched my Safer Phones Bill last year I said it was the start of a debate and a campaign of persuasion.
“Over the last few months, we’ve had a very lively national debate and persuaded many people that it is time to act on the negative effects of excessive screen time and social media use on children’s health, sleep and learning.
“Private members’ bills often go nowhere and so from the start my focus has been on securing government support for action.
“The final bill I published last week was one I was hopeful the Government would back and I’m pleased that the Government indicated that it will act on the measures in the bill.
“This will be the first meaningful step from the UK Government to engage with the widespread impacts of excessive smartphone and social media use by children. But it must not be the last step.”
