It's probably not feasible at this point to entirely ban children from having smartphones and parents would still buy them for their kids anyway. What's more feasible is to finally get social media services regulated, hold them to account for the rampant amount of bullying, abuse and exploitation children are subjected to on their platforms, and impose strict, meaningful penalties when they fail to act and when actual harm occurs as a result.
Should smart phones be banned for under 16s?
- Thread starter Bassmansam
- Start date
Soldato
poison though, now that works a treat on most idiots.
Soldato
Yes.
One time I was out for a meal with friends and one of the guys brought his girlfriend. They were sitting next to each other txting together. Madness.
I'd imagine today many kids online persona is more important than real life.
Caporegime
Caporegime
They can get access from WiFi pretty much anywhere or get hotspot from friends.
My daughter is on Giffgaff. You don't need any Id for a rolling month SIM. Just a card which teenagers can get really easy too.
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Soldato
Personally, I think no, they should not be banned.
However, what the government should have done a long time ago, is create an internet especially for 16's and under. The principle of which is all sites are blocked unless specifically allowed. Their idea of trying to control the internet is just ridiculous and bound to fail.
However, what the government should have done a long time ago, is create an internet especially for 16's and under. The principle of which is all sites are blocked unless specifically allowed. Their idea of trying to control the internet is just ridiculous and bound to fail.
Not if those kids don't have a SIM contract from their parents. It would involve a mindset change from parents to stop enabling free access.
Ban at schools either through no phones at all on school property with punishments enforced or forced to put phones in locker or something you collect at the end of the day. Pretty sure some country has students put devices away somewhere. kids have no need for phones at school. There will be exceptions like medical needs ofc like insulin or whatever.
Can't really help WiFi outside from stores etc unless they also block access to certain things.
Outside of school hours it's on parents.
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ever time i see someone on here say the "government should" my head scrams you mean the "parents"
every time something go wrong now day we all look at who to blame in the government... look after your own kids
every time something go wrong now day we all look at who to blame in the government... look after your own kids
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Caporegime
Let's remove age limits on alcohol and smoking while we are at it.
Caporegime
Yes they can quite easily get access to unlimited data. I cannot believe people are so naive in this thread.
They can literally sit in McDonald's if they want on the WiFi.
My daughter has timers on her Xbox live and WiFi at home but what she does at school and outside is beyond our control really.
Of course there would be work around like shops (as I mentioned) which would also need restrictions put in place by the companies. Which would probably need government intervention to force it.
Or the easiest solution (at least to my smooth brain) is for ISP and providers to ban it all together on their side and require specific per device permission for access similar to child ones currently. Again government intervention though.
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why is it?
unless she as a stash of laptop you can control her phone no matter what network she links to
Caporegime
You were saying it is all down to the parents yet the government has laws against alcohol and smoking because children cannot be trusted. If it was "up to the parents" to police there wouldn't need to be any age limit on those things.
Caporegime
Exactly. My daughters phone can’t install any app without my (or my wife’s) permission. She can only access certain apps outside of the dedicated screen time hours, and communication is restricted to trusted contacts.
This is a bit of a silly argument. Your 2/3 year old doesn't need it does she? It's a device that needs to be taken with her at all times by whoever is looking after them.
Caporegime
Whilst technically true, it’s her phone, in her name, with her accounts configured.
The fact that she primarily has it with her for carers to use is irrelevant, she can (and does) use it herself, and we want to encourage that so she can manage her own destiny as soon as possible.
Suspended
Its 18 for a simple reason. Below 18 the law says you cannot sign a contract that can be enforced against you.
Its why below 18 you wont be able to sign a contract for anything, buy a sofa, mobile phone, car loan, bank loan (or overdraft), etc etc