One of the UK’s largest network providers, EE, has issued new guidance advising parents against buying smartphones for children under 11-years-old. Instead, they recommend “limited capability devices” that only allow texting and calling for primary school-aged children.
The company also suggests enabling parental control features when giving smartphones to children aged 16 or below, and restricting access to social media for those under 13. This advice is part of EE’s efforts to “safeguard children in the digital world”, amid concerns about the potential mental health impacts of excessive smartphone use and the risks of unrestricted internet access.
The guidance will be made public on Sunday, following calls from campaigners and MPs for more robust action on this issue. EE also plans to introduce updated in-app controls and has launched a national school campaign to educate young people about responsible digital behaviour.
Mat Sears, corporate affairs director for EE, said: “While technology and connectivity have the power to transform lives, we recognise the growing complexity of smartphones can be challenging for parents and caregivers. They need support, which is why we are launching new guidelines on smartphone usage for under 11s, 11 to 13-year-olds, and 13 to 16-year-olds to help them make the best choices for their children through these formative years.”
The guidance suggests that children aged 11-13 should have family sharing capabilities installed on their first phone. This would allow parents to monitor screen time, track app usage and set time limits for specific applications.
For those aged 13-16, the guidance recommends they should be allowed to join social media, but this should be linked to a parent or guardian account. Parental controls should also be used to manage access to inappropriate sites, content and platforms.
EE has announced that staff will be trained on the new guidance in the coming days and weeks, although smartphone sales will not be age-restricted. A survey by charity Parentkind in April revealed that more than four in five (83%) of parents believe smartphones are “harmful” to children and young people, with 58% supporting a mobile phone ban for under-16s.
In May, the House of Commons Education Committee suggested that the Government should consider a total ban on phones for under-16s and that tougher action is needed to limit screen time and combat online harm. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated in July that he does not support “simply banning” phones for children under 16, adding that the Government needs “to look again” at what content children are accessing online.
Esther Ghey, who tragically lost her teen daughter Brianna Ghey in a brutal murder, has been campaigning for the implementation of an age limit on smartphone use and tighter regulation of social media app access. In a pivotal move back in February, the prior administration issued non-statutory guidance to schools across England with the objective of curtailing mobile phone usage during school hours.
Carolyn Bunting, the CEO of Internet Matters, a leading online safety organisation, welcomed the move, stating: “This initiative is timely and much-needed.”
She highlighted parents’ conflicting emotions about digital technology, saying: “Parents and guardians want their children to be able to stay connected with them and to experience the benefits of digital technology, but they are also concerned about online safety and wellbeing.”
Bunting pointed out the findings of recent studies: “Our recent research showed that parents want to make their own decisions about their children’s use of technology, but that many would value guidance to help them in doing so.” Further emphasising the positive impact of supporting parents, she added: “It is fantastic that EE is supporting parents with age-specific advice to support children’s diverse technology needs.”