Thousands support UK parents encouraging smartphone-free childhood

Over 4,000 parents have joined a group called Smartphone Free Childhood, which aims to prevent young children from having smartphones due to concerns about online safety and the impact of social media on mental health.

The group was created by Clare Fernyhough and Daisy Greenwell, who want parents to delay giving their children smartphones until at least 14, with no social media access until 16.

The group unexpectedly gained nationwide attention and now has about 4,500 members. The founders believe that smartphones expose children to inappropriate content and are advocating for a change in the norm so that children can delay having smartphones until they are older.

Smartphones expose children to a “world that they are not ready for” because they can access pornography and content on self-harm and suicide, which can have a detrimental impact on their mental health, Fernyhough said.

The movement has gained momentum after a mother called for a ban on social media access for under-16s following the murder of her daughter, who she believes was vulnerable after spending too much time online.

The goal is to create a critical mass of peers who delay getting smartphones, reducing peer pressure and allowing children to focus on learning and enjoying the real world.