A new study by the UK communications regulator has revealed that a quarter of British children aged between five and seven-years-old now have a smart phone, raising concerns among parents and officials alike.
The research conducted by Ofcom found that 38 percent of children in this age group were using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Whatsapp, despite the minimum age requirement of 13. Additionally, the study showed that the number of children watching live-streamed content has increased significantly.
Science Minister Michelle Donelan described the findings as “stark” and emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of age restrictions on social media platforms. The Online Safety Act, passed by parliament last October, aims to crack down on harmful content, including online child sex abuse.
The study comes in the wake of growing parental concerns over the impact of smart phones on children’s mental health and safety. One mother’s viral Instagram post expressing horror at her 11-year-old son having a smart phone sparked a wave of similar sentiments among parents, leading to the launch of the Parents United for a Smartphone Free Childhood campaign.
US author Jonathan Haidt, who believes smart phones have rewired children’s brains, has called for collective action among parents to limit smart phone access for kids. He advocates for no smart phones before the age of 14 and no social media before 16, emphasizing the importance of parents coming together to protect their children from the potential dangers of excessive screen time.