Warwickshire parents from 150 schools sign phone-ban pledge

Research gathered by SFC indicates 97% of 12-year-olds now own a smartphone.

Charlotte Ashton, a mother-of-two and the Warwickshire lead campaigner, said: “We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place because on one hand, we know how harmful smartphones are for children but on the other hand, if you don’t give your child one, you risk socially isolating them and you don’t want your child to be the odd one out.”

Sam Ibbs, a paediatrician and mother, added: “Time on smartphones and screens are linked to a serious decline in mental health, anxiety, depression, poor language skills, the list goes on and on.”

A private member’s bill that aims to tackle smartphones in schools and addictive algorithms aimed at young teenagers had its second reading in Parliament earlier this month.