Fight begins to make mobile-free schools law
15 October 2024
Some of those in favour of smartphones say they provide good opportunities for child development, including socialising, and there is little evidence supporting restrictions of devices in schools.
Mr MacAlister is using the bill to call for:
a legal requirement for all schools to be mobile-free zones
the age online companies can receive data consent from children without permission from parents to be raised from 13 to 16
Ofcom’s powers to be strengthened so it can enforce a code of conduct to prevent children being exposed to apps and services “addictive by design”
further regulation of the design, supply, marketing and use of mobile phones by under-16s, if needed