Daisy Greenwell and her friend, Clare Fernyhough, created a WhatsApp group and an Instagram post to discuss their concerns about children owning smartphones. The post went viral, leading to the formation of Smartphone Free Childhood, a charity that aims to delay the age at which children receive smartphones. The movement aligns with growing concerns about the negative effects of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health and exposure to violent content. Governments in Europe have taken action to curtail children’s smartphone use, while the British government has been hesitant to intervene. Smartphone Free Childhood encourages parents to collectively delay giving smartphones to their children, providing a united front against peer pressure. Some schools and boroughs in England have already decided to ban smartphones, while others remain skeptical of their impact.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/europe/smartphone-ban-schools-uk-childhood.html