Calls for primary schools to 'restrict smartphone use’

A VOLUNTARY code restricting smartphone use for children under 13 should be adopted by all primary schools and agreed to by parents, according to Cork Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard.

Mr Lombard said initiatives at schools in Greystones and Waterford, where smartphones are banned, should be replicated in all primary schools and supported by the Department of Education.

“I understand a memo will be brought to Cabinet by the Minister for Education Norma Foley on this issue on Tuesday and that she has indicated that she would like a collective decision by parents not to buy phones for their young children,” said Mr Lombard.

“A recent survey by CyberSafeKids found that 95% of 8- to 12-year-olds own their own smart device and 87% have social-media or instant-messaging accounts, despite minimum-age restrictions of 13 on all of the most popular apps.

“Children often have negative experiences online with the reality of cyber-bullying, grooming, and exposure to harmful, and inappropriate consequences, which can have profound and distressing consequences on the young person, as well as the worry it causes for parents,” said Mr Lombard.

He said a number of schools in Wicklow, Dublin, and Waterford have a ‘No Smart Device Voluntary Code’, which encourages parents and guardians to agree to postpone the purchase of smart devices for their children until they go to secondary school, including the children having no access to apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok.

“These kinds of initiatives, taken by school communities, are extremely positive and show how collective agreement can be reached when parents and guardians come together with educators,” said Mr Lombard, adding that access to smartphones should be limited or restricted during school hours.

“I understand that the Department of Education is actively engaging with various stakeholders to consider how best to support such initiatives,” he said.