London: The British government has launched a nationwide consultation on children's use of social media and mobile phones amid growing concerns that excessive screen time is undermining young people's mental health, learning, and social development. The initiative marks a significant step in Britain's efforts to regulate the digital environment for children, prompted by increasing demands from parents, schools, and lawmakers to address the pervasive influence of social media and smartphones.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the consultation seeks input from parents, young people, and civil society to help children foster a healthier relationship with technology. This effort is backed by a national public discussion intended to inform policy decisions. In conjunction with the consultation, immediate measures have been introduced to strengthen mobile phone restrictions in schools. Ofsted, the school watchdog, is now tasked with ensuring that phone bans are enforced during inspections, with schools expected to become "phone-free by default."

The shift in policy is driven by evidence that smartphones are frequently used in classrooms despite existing rules. Data reveals that 58 percent of secondary school pupils reported unauthorized mobile phone use in some lessons, with the figure rising to 65 percent among older students. The consultation will explore various regulatory options, such as raising the digital age of consent, enhancing age-verification systems, implementing phone curfews to limit excessive use, and curbing addictive design features like "infinite scrolling" and "streaks."

The government plans to release evidence-based screen-time guidance for parents of children aged 5-16, following guidance for parents of under-fives anticipated in April. This guidance aims to assist families in managing children's use of digital devices at home. Updated school guidelines will also clarify that students should not have access to mobile phones during lessons, breaks, or between classes.

British media highlights that the initiative is a response to growing political pressure for stronger action on children's online safety, with lawmakers from various parties supporting proposals to ban social media access for under-16s. The British government intends to respond to the consultation by summer as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance children's wellbeing in the digital era.

Source: Namibia Press Agency