Studies are showing children as young as 5-7 years old already own smartphones, and are active on social media platforms such as TikTok without adult supervision. The aspect of their phone being unsupervised opens kids up to so many dangers and safety concerns.
Ofcom conducted a study, and it shows that there is a trend of more young users signing up for social media, with more parents allowing children who are still under the minimum age requirement, to use these platforms.
The Ofcom report shared, “Three-quarters of parents of children aged 5-7 who go online say they have talked to their child about staying safe online (76%), and over half do so at least every few weeks (56%). Parents of older children who go online (those aged 8-17) are more likely to have ever had online safety conversations with their child (over 90% of parents of children in each age band).
“The research suggests a disconnect between older children’s exposure to potentially harmful content online, and what they share with their parents about their online experiences. A third (32%) of 8-17s say they have seen something worrying or nasty online in the last 12 months, but only 20% of parents of this age group report their child telling them they had seen something online that scared or upset them in the same time frame.”
How Are “Dumb” Phones Viewed As A Safer Option?
As a way to address the issue of minors on smartphones, experts have suggested that children are given feature phones instead. This is due to them being safety, thanks to their limited features, with no social media and internet to access app stores.
Here, kids can use the phone to make calls and send messages to their guardians. According to research by Vodafone, 35% of parents are not aware of the existence of such basic phones as an option for their children.
Should Dumb Phones Replace Smartphones For Kids?
On the other hand, the Vodafone report shows that in the UK, parents prefer their child’s first devices to be a feature phone. In fact, 67% of parents they surveyed opt for them, to make sure kids can contact them, but without the risks of smartphones.
94% of parents believe that digital habit education in schools must be taught. It should be a requirement that parents should also take the responsibility to learn these topics, to keep their kids safe, considering the figures surrounding parents not knowing about their children’s activities and encounters online. We’ve asked experts what they think, and this is what they have to say:
Our Experts:
- Ben Waterman, Founder, Strabo
- Dr. Huriye Atilgan, Neuroscientist and Founder, TAK Index
- Ieva Kubiliute, Psychologist, It’s Me and You Clinic
- Ruby Soave, Head of Influencer Marketing, Pion
- Julian Bammer, Head of Customer Service, spusu.
- James Brown, Director, Protect Your Bubble
Ben Waterman, Founder, Strabo
“I have long since been considering moving to a Dumb Phone myself, and as someone looking ahead to parenthood I fear the repercussions of having instant and constant access to the internet for young children. I feel passionately that time spent being bored was instrumental in shaping my early years.
“It’s vitally important that children have the time to get bored and find things to do that require some time investment, which is incredibly difficult when their attention is being taken by instant gratification via smartphone apps and social media. It would be great to see a societal push towards this so that parents and teachers can give their children Dumb Phones without fear of ostracising them from their peers. This is unlikely to happen in totality, but it is certainly something that can be pushed on an individual basis.”
Dr. Huriye Atilgan, Neuroscientist and Founder, TAK Index
“The world is oversaturated with smartphones, but the simplicity of “dumb phones” really brings balance to the overstimulating digital landscape for children. Their undeveloped brains are being bombarded with information and blasted with constant notifications – not to mention the ease with which they can find and consume inappropriate content. All they need at a young age are the essential functionalities like calling and texting with minimal distraction.
“A key benefit here is the reduction in screen time. Children develop better interpersonal skills when they’re not constantly tethered to a smartphone. If they’re more engaged in family conversations and outdoor activities, they will develop improved emotional intelligence and stronger connections in real-life situations.
“With “dumb phones”, children learn to handle communication more intentionally, deciding when to reach out or respond, which encourages mindfulness instead of the compulsive checking linked to smartphones.”
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Ieva Kubiliute, Psychologist, It’s Me and You Clinic
“The allure of smartphones for children is undeniable, but the consequences are often underestimated. As a psychologist, I strongly advocate for the use of “dumb phones” for children, particularly those in their formative years.
“Firstly, cognitive development during childhood is highly sensitive to the surrounding environment. Smartphones, with their endless apps and internet access, can easily lead to overstimulation, distraction, and a reduction in attention span. Children are naturally curious, and while this curiosity is vital for learning, the unfiltered and overwhelming content accessible via smartphones can expose them to inappropriate material and ideas far beyond their developmental capacity to process. A dumb phone, on the other hand, significantly limits these risks, allowing children to focus on their immediate surroundings, studies, and personal interactions without the constant pull of digital entertainment.
“Moreover, smartphones can inadvertently introduce children to social pressures and cyberbullying, issues that are alarmingly prevalent today. Social media platforms and messaging apps create environments where children can be subjected to harmful behaviours, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Dumb phones reduce these risks by limiting access to such platforms, allowing children to engage in real-life social interactions, which are crucial for developing healthy social skills.
“From a psychological perspective, children benefit enormously from having clear boundaries and guidelines. I often advise parents and educators to provide children with tools that match their maturity levels. A dumb phone is a practical step in teaching children about responsibility, without exposing them to the overwhelming complexities of the digital world. This approach also encourages creativity and problem-solving, as children are less likely to turn to Google for every query and more likely to engage in critical thinking and learning through experience.
“While smartphones have their place in modern life, they are not always the right choice for young children. A dumb phone offers a balanced solution, providing the necessary communication tools while safeguarding a child’s mental and emotional well-being. I often tell my clients that when it comes to technology, less can truly be more, especially during the critical stages of a child’s development.”
Ruby Soave, Head of Influencer Marketing, Pion
“Data from our latest Youth Trends Report shows that 1 in 3 Gen Zers feel negatively about tech including virtual influencers, despite many admitting to valuing AI in other areas of their lives.
“When asked more about this, one respondent shared they find AI influencers ‘creepy’, noting it’s bizarre for brands to ‘pay for something without a consciousness to promote something when it can’t even form its own opinion’².
“This further supports our findings that one in four (26%) Gen Z believe AI is a threat to human connections. We know this is a huge concern for the generation, who are spending 1,000 fewer hours on their in-person connections compared to previous generations and admitting they’d like to disconnect from social media more.”
Julian Bammer, Head of Customer Service, spusu.
“Recent data shows that almost half of British teenagers feel addicted to social media, while Swedish health authorities announced this week that teenagers should have no more than three hours of screen time a day. Therefore, it’s understandable that parents and teachers will be looking for ways to reduce screen time and improve focus in lessons.
“An increasing number of schools, such as Eton, are tackling the problem by providing students with ‘dumb phones’, which can only receive texts and calls. However, smartphones offer several benefits that aren’t afforded by more basic models, such as GPS apps that help to keep children safe by allowing parents to see their location.
“Rather than mandating that students switch to dumb phones, schools could restrict usage in other ways. For example, Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan yesterday announced new guidance for schools to limit mobile use, which included funding for a pilot scheme that would see pupils locking their phones in magnetic pouches during class.
“These pouches can only be unlocked at special unlocking stations, meaning that young people can still enjoy the benefits of smartphones in their own time, without detracting from their learning. Ultimately, dumb phones aren’t the only answer to kerbing smartphone addiction in teens. Instead, parents and teachers — backed by necessary funding — need to explore ways of maintaining the benefits of functional smartphones, without them being a negative distraction on young people’s development.”
James Brown, Director, Protect Your Bubble
“One report found that 90 percent of children own a mobile phone by the time they reach the age of 11.
“Excessive screen time could have a detrimental impact on children’s social skills, confidence, studies, and it could cause screen addiction which may lead to mental health difficulties and sleep problems.
“Why should parents or teachers give kids dumb phones?
“The growing movement of encouraging children to use less tech enable phones dubbed ‘dumb phone’ can be reassuring for both parents and teachers who are concerned about the screen time of children.
“While studies have shown that excessive screen time can be detrimental to children, tech devices can also be an essential tool. In a world that is dominated by devices it is beneficial for children to learn how to operate them effectively and manage how often they use those devices.
“Phones with fewer features provide a good introduction for children to learn about technology, while still limiting how often it can be used. However, if a child already has a smart device, it can be useful to make some changes to the device to make it less distracting to children.
“Here are some tips on how to update a smartphone to make it ‘dumb’:
“Keep only the essential apps: Less tech enabled phones allow parents to limit the number and type of apps that are installed on their children’s phone. This could encourage a much healthier relationship with the device, as children are growing up.
“By keeping only the essential apps accessible, such as those for communication, school-related tools, and any specific apps required for their activities, it supports children to keep their concentration levels optimum. This could also help their social skills to continue to develop at an appropriate scale so they can efficiently interact with their friends, and family members.
“This method could also encourage parents to keep any games and activities on a separate device so that children do not have access to these apps all the time. This practice may help build boundaries and support a healthy balance between study time, family time, and ‘play’ time.
“Efficient parental control: Most smartphones come with built-in parental control features that could help you monitor and restrict your child’s phone usage. This is ideal as parents can encourage their children to have a limited and healthy amount of screen time on their phone.
“Whilst a House of Commons Committee report details that parents and adults continue to wait for official guidance from the Government, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health released some recommendations in 2019. This advises parents to negotiate screen time limits according to individual needs, activities and the degree to which screen time replaces other activities.
“This mobile phone feature also has the potential to provide protection for children against harmful and inappropriate content, to ensure that kids’ mental health is not impacted by the unwelcome online content, that is otherwise easily accessible online.
“Silence the notifications for maintained focus: To minimise these distractions, teachers and parents may encourage children to turn off non-essential notifications, which could help their focus and hopefully, in turn, their academic progress within the classroom.
“Notifications are designed to capture attention immediately. Each beep or buzz can disrupt a child’s focus, pulling them back to their device. For instance, one survey found that around 30 percent of teens have lost focus in class to check their phones.
“Usage restriction: Similarly to parents, teachers could ensure that the phones are only used during lessons when intended, by setting usage restrictions on school devices.
“If children are encouraged to use their own phone during the lessons for research, teachers may wish to discuss usage restriction with parents.
“This could support efficiency within a classroom, so that tasks set out during a lesson can be carried out promptly, eliminating the distraction of game applications that may negatively impact students’ attention on the lesson.”
Block app downloads
“With so many games and social media apps, it may be tempting for children to download all sorts of apps to keep them entertained, both on their private and school devices.
“To prevent children from downloading apps without the teachers’ knowledge, privacy restrictions can be set up, which will prevent children from downloading any additional apps.
“On the Play Store settings menu, adults can select parental controls which allow them to limit the installation of apps without a passcode. On an iPhone, the content and privacy restrictions menu on the App Store will allow teachers and parents to block the installation of apps.”
