Protecting Childhood: The Case for Phone-Free Schools and Social Media Limits

Millions of patients who experience a mental health crisis will now be able to access help via NHS 111, making England one of the world’s first countries to offer 24-hour daily support through one phone line.

NHS staff will guide callers with next steps such organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E or a hospital admission.

Recently, there have been growing discussions around whether the UK could follow Australia in banning social media for young teenagers, amidst concerns that inappropriate content is contributing to a mental health crisis among young people.

I don’t have a firm stance on this issue yet, as I don’t think we fully know the answer as to what we should or shouldn’t be doing.

I am, on the other hand, sure that phones should be removed from schools. Ormiston, is the first national academy in England to implement a phone-free policy, citing the “catastrophic” impact smartphones have had on students’ mental health and learning.

The Head stated “We are seeing huge concerns around mental health post pandemic. These are not just self-reported, we’re also seeing real concerns about self-harm, attempted suicide, A & E admissions - these are facts from across the world involving people and adolescents…there’s a clear correlation between that and phones and social media use, in particular. Not all mobile phones use is equal and the relationship between that and adolescent mental health, we think, is overwhelming”.
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“There’s evidence even if your phone is in the same room, in your bag or pocket, your brain is leaking attention, still thinking about it and being drawn to it, wondering if there has been a notification on it and what it might be…This is impacting young people’s ability to learn, retain information, concentrate, focus. An increasing distraction is catastrophic for the process of learning, and that’s true both at school and at home.”

Jonathan Haidt, who I recently spoke to on Therapy Works, applauded this decision. He argues the only effective phone-free policy is from bell to bell. If students access their phones during breaks, they’ll dwell on online drama during class and won’t properly socialise. Haidt advocates for six to seven hours of uninterrupted focus.

He supports 4 new norms for a healthier childhood: 1) No smartphones before high school, 2) No social media before 16, 3) Phone-free schools  4) More independence, free play, and responsibility.

I want to hear your thoughts — what worries you, and how do you think we can best protect our children? ♥️

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