One of the key tenets is legally banning smartphones from schools but Sir Keir\u2019s spokesman said the government has \u201cno plans to legislate\u201d that as headteachers can already ban phones from classrooms, although they have no legal backing.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Sir Keir\u2019s spokesman said the bill \u201cwon\u2019t go ahead\u201d, but Health Secretary Wes Streeting separately indicated some support for the bill as he said \u201cthis is a really timely debate\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr MacAlister said he is not perturbed and told Sky News: \u201cThis is a campaign of persuasion.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of the bill, he is calling for:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Raising the age of \u201cinternet adulthood\u201d (the minimum age to create social media profiles, email accounts, etc) from 13 to 16
\u2022 Legally banning smartphones from classrooms
\u2022 Strengthening Ofcom\u2019s powers to protect children from apps designed to be addictive
\u2022 Committing government to review further regulation if needed of the design, supply, marketing and use of mobile phones by children under 16<\/p>\n
Current guidance to schools in England intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day is non-statutory, and was introduced earlier this year<\/strong> by the previous Tory government. The bill would make it a legal requirement.<\/p>\nMr MacAlister, who chaired an independent review of children\u2019s social care for the former government, said there was a \u201chuge public health problem\u201d with children around the world having increasing levels of mental health problems, issues with sleep and being impacted by phones in school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m only interested in one thing, which is making sure we can change the law to protect children and reduce screen time and get them back to having a healthier childhood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents are saying they\u2019re facing an impossible choice between either keeping their kids off smartphones and ostracising them or letting children get on these phones and seeing all the harmful effects that it can cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we need to shape some collective rules that help parents and teachers make better choices for children.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren themselves are recognising the harm that comes with all of the doom-scrolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doom-scrolling is the act of spending an excessive amount of time online consuming negative news or social media content, often without stopping.<\/p>\n
<\/strong> <\/p>\nMr MacAlister denied imposing a law would turn the UK into a \u201cnanny state\u201d, saying governments \u201cdo have a role to play\u201d to set the rules for big tech companies.<\/p>\n
And he said if the government fails to act, calls for a complete smartphone ban for children \u201cwill only grow\u201d, which will make it tougher for the tech industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019d say to them directly, get on board, engage with this, shape the regulation, help protect children and you will be operating in a UK market, which means you can keep the public onside with all the brilliant work that the tech industry does do without putting children at risk,\u201d the MP said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This post appeared first on sky.com<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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