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The debate over whether and when children should be given cell phones has been going on for years. But recently, the issue has been shot to the forefront of the national debate.
From parenting campaigns to bestsellers, a movement has emerged that believes smartphones are ruining childhood and that young people should be banned from having them. It’s not hard to think of reasons why: they’re addictive, they keep kids glued to screens instead of playing, they can be used for online bullying, and they’re one of the reasons so many children watch pornography.
But there are positives: offering parents the security of knowing their children can contact them if they need help, and allowing much-needed social connections for marginalized groups. So how worried should parents be? Blake MontgomeryThe Guardian’s US technology editor looks at what science says about children and phone use.
Annalisa Barbieri, who answers readers’ problems in the Guardian’s Saturday magazine, and her daughter Raphaela explain how they see this heated debate. They tell Helen Peed how together they navigated the pitfalls of social media and smartphones without resorting to banning.
Photo: Alex Segre/Alamy
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