Roll backSmartphones
Campaigning for regulation to protect children from addictive devices and harmful online content.
Our proposals
We are calling for the Government to prioritise these five key steps:
Tabacco-style health warnings
Prominent tobacco -style health warnings about excessive screen time and addictive nature of devices to be displayed on smartphone packaging and in all smartphone-related advertisements
NO Smartphones in schools
Smartphones use to be prohibited in schools and early-years settings (rather than current advisory guidance) . Education on addictive smartphone behaviour, related mental health risks and child-appropriate phone alternatives to be included in the online safety curriculum.
Public health campaign
A Government or industry-funded campaign to raise awareness among parents and children of the risk of harms from excessive screen time and addictive behaviours associated with smartphone use.
NO unrestricted apps
A prohibition on the sale, supply and marketing of unrestricted smartphones and applications to children until the end of Secondary School Key Stage 4 with the onus on suppliers to verify the age of users.
NEW child-appropriate phones
A licencing regime to create a new market for child-appropriate restricted smartphones and applications that meet narrow safety and appropriateness criteria set in law and overseen by an independent kite marking authority which prioritises children’s well-being, such as the Children’s Commissioner.
43% of teenagers say they often, or sometimes, use their phone to avoid interacting with someone.
Pew Research Study
Briefing Document
View and download our complete briefing document, with cited evidence of all the associated harms, and more details on our proposals.
What ourKids say
Discover what the kids say about the gadgets that shape their daily lives. These short interviews share the thoughts and opinions of kids regarding smartphones, offering a glimpse into their experiences and concerns.
Are smartphones addictive?
Should smartphones have age restrictions?