🚨 "The wellbeing of a generation is at stake..." 📱 Dan Tomlinson MP writes for Mumsnet about why we need to take urgent action on kids and smartphones - and how schools in Barnet are leading the way. 🔗 Read the full piece at bit.ly/MumsnetDanToml…

Sir Martyn is absolutely right. I’ve lost count of the number of times that parents, teachers & kids have said to me that we must ban smartphones from schools for behaviour, well-being & attainment. Bridget Phillipson is the only person blocking this. thetimes.com/article/5cb35a…

This from Baroness Barran is as powerful and moving an exposition against the unthinking adoption of ed tech in schools as I can recall: "We must acknowledge that we have little reliable evidence of the educational benefits of screen based homework whilst evidence of potential

“Matilda "Tilly" Roseworn died by suicide at just 15 years old — after years of relentless bullying, amplified by social media platforms.” Australia is banning social media for under-16s. Every other country must do the same.

As health professionals who have looked at the overwhelming evidence of the harms to children’s physical and mental health and development, and have seen the impact in our clinics on a daily basis, we also support a ban. safescreenscampaign

As more and more schools introduce screen based learning - including spelling apps for children as young as 5 - which are sold by educational technology companies as ‘more engaging’ who is looking at the educational impact? Department for Education

Parents are increasingly concerned about the rapid adoption of pupil facing 1:1 devices & EdTech platforms in schools. Studies show use of digital devices has a negative impact on children’s academic progress. We must pause & properly evaluate EdTech pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11…

These are powerful words from the Princess of Wales, she is absolutely right. It doesn’t need to be this way. We can and must do more to protect childhood.

Thank you Kate! 🙏 “While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite.” — HRH The Princess of Wales. Powerful words today from HRH The Princess of Wales on the very themes that shaped Super Connected™.

“For babies and young children, the pull of screens will be even stronger than for older children, the habits more deeply ingrained as they grow. Yet this is precisely the period when children should start developing the social and emotional skills that will serve them throughout

We couldn’t agree more. As health professionals, we have been sharing the evidence around the harms of screens to young children’s physical and mental health and development. A public health campaign about this issue is long overdue.

As an early years’ speech and language therapist, I am grateful to the Princess of Wales for highlighting this issue. I see the harms of screens on our youngest children in my clinic every day.

“The Princess will no doubt be accused of preaching. But the smartphone has transformed family life so rapidly and so totally that many parents are desperate for help as we struggle to raise children in the midst of the most disruptive technological revolution in history.”

Leaving aside concerns about facilitating a social credit system, as seen in China, this must be resisted on the simple ground that it is almost criminally blind to parent and teacher opinion on smartphones and devices. It would mandate smartphone ownership for kids at just the

"The Princess has put her finger on one of the most important issues of our age. Smartphones are transforming the nature of childhood, leaving our children lonely, anxious & lacking in skills of communication & concentration that are vital for successful adult life."

The gov’t have argued that there is not enough evidence of the harms of smartphones. We Health Professionals for Safer Screens presented them with a briefing document full of evidence in Nov ‘24 & there is now so much more. They must start putting children first.

The brilliant Sandy Chappell speaking from her decades of experience as a speech and language therapist about the impacts of screens on childhood development. This week’s essay from HRH The Princess of Wales is completely spot on🎯 Health Professionals for Safer Screens #safeguardingchildren

“This is a conversation we must keep having, for the safety, wellbeing, and future of our young people.”

We’ve sleepwalked into a world where kids are addicted to screens. In most other areas we apply the precautionary principle to protect children. Yet we’ve handed them devices exposing them to porn, self-harm & bullying. Govt must ban phones in schools & get kids off social media

Other products carrying potential harm to children are regulated. Why not addictive smartphones?