The Labour MP Josh MacAlister will introduce a private member’s bill to make smartphone bans in a school a legal requirement.
The MP says that Safer Phones Bill will protect children from the harms that can be caused by excessive screen time, and the use of social media and other apps, many of them addictive by design.
The former teacher says that the equivalent of “seatbelt” legislation is needed for children and their social media use to help them manage addictive content
Back in February schools in England were given guidance under the former Conservative government intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day, but it is currently non-statutory.
The Bill is also expected to call for the age at which companies can get data consent from children without parental permission to be raised from 13 to 16 to make smartphones less addictive.
