Maybe banning smartphones from teenagers really works At least until age 14: several English schools have tried this, and the results are encouraging

About a year ago, more than thirty elementary schools in the district of the English city of Saint Albans, a town of around 75,000 people located northwest of London, launched a project aimed at discouraging the use of smartphones by children under the age of 14. In collaboration with families, the schools also suggested delaying registration on various social networks, including Instagram and TikTok, until at least the age of 16, with the goal of promoting the psychological and social well-being of children and adolescents. The campaign sparked a lot of debate, also because in the United Kingdom, unlike other European countries such as Italy, there is no national regulation governing the use of smartphones in schools. Decisions in this regard have in fact been made independently by individual British schools. But a year after the project began, the teachers and school leaders involved have observed positive effects: students seem more attentive during lessons and interact with each other more spontaneously, showing a more active and engaged attitude toward school life. Furthermore, even among older students, a noticeable reduction in the use of mobile devices has been observed. It is therefore not surprising that the experience of Saint Albans has influenced other areas as well. Just a few weeks after the project began, 18 of the 20 secondary schools in the Southwark district, in south London, launched the same campaign. Eton College, one of the most renowned educational institutions in the UK, also adopted a similar measure: first-year students – aged between 13 and 14 – were required to use phones with only essential messaging functions. A further push in this direction came from the “Smartphone Free Childhood” movement, founded by two parents who were inspired by the experience of the schools in Saint Albans. The campaign quickly spread throughout the UK and, to date, has been adopted by over 13,000 schools in the country.

Are smartphones the problem?

In recent years, numerous concerns have emerged regarding the early use of smartphones among children and adolescents, especially due to the possible consequences on mental health. Several studies have reported a link between prolonged use of mobile devices from a young age and increased levels of anxiety, depression, and attention deficit. The phenomenon appears to be particularly pronounced among girls, who also show a rise in self-harm and, in extreme cases, suicide. According to some studies conducted in the United States, between 2010 and 2019, rates of depression and anxiety among minors increased by more than 50 percentage points. During the same period, suicides in the 10–19 age group rose by 48%, with an even greater increase of 131% among girls aged 10 to 14. Similar trends have also been observed in other Western countries – including Italy.

In this context, the use of social media and the gradual reduction of time spent offline are often cited as the main factors making Gen Z so prone to mental health disorders – more than any other generation for which comparable data exist. It has long been known that social networks can expose children and adolescents to episodes of online bullying, violent or discriminatory content, and social dynamics that heighten feelings of exclusion or insecurity. In particular, platforms like WhatsApp can sometimes facilitate the spread of inappropriate or aggressive content, which is difficult to control. In the United Kingdom, available data show that early access to technology is already very widespread: over a quarter of children aged 5 to 7 own a smartphone, and 38% are already active on social media. Additionally, 69% of those aged 8 to 15 spend up to three hours a day online, while nearly a quarter exceed four hours daily. In light of this situation, a new regulation is coming into effect in the UK: the Online Safety Act, which will come into force next July. The law includes a series of measures designed to improve online safety on digital platforms, gaming apps, and other online spaces frequented by minors. However, according to several observers, these measures are not enough. Specifically, a stronger commitment from the government is being called for, both in terms of legislation to limit smartphone use in secondary schools, and through educational programs aimed at young people, families, and teachers.