Don’t give smartphones to kids under 11, major cell operator advises parents

EE suggests parents should give younger children phones that can only make calls or send texts.

Parents of elementary school-age children have been advised against giving them smartphones by one of the UK’s biggest cell operators.

EE gave the guidance about kids under the age of 11, suggesting instead that parents provide “devices with limited capabilities” that allow them to text or call but cannot access social media or inappropriate content.

The network operator said the initiative was a response to growing concerns among parents about screen time, online safety, and how digital device usage can affect children’s well-being.

“While technology and connectivity have the power to transform lives, we recognize the growing complexity of smartphones can be challenging for parents and caregivers,” Mat Sears, EE’s corporate affairs director, said in a statement.

“They need support, which is why we are launching new guidelines on smartphone usage for under 11s, 11-13-year-olds, and 13-16-year-olds to help them make the best choices for their children through these formative years,” he said.

EE also advised that smartphones used by children aged 11 to 13 should have parental controls enabled, family-sharing apps in place, and restrict access to social media.

The company suggested smartphones were appropriate for 13 to 16-year-olds but advised parental controls should be used to “restrict children’s access to inappropriate sites, content, and platforms.”

It’s thought to be the first time a UK operator has offered such advice on smartphone use by children.

There has been growing concern about smartphone use’s effects on children and teenagers. Jonathan Haidt’s bestseller, “The Anxious Generation,” sparked global attention by arguing that the rise of smartphones was linked to an uptick in mental health issues in young people.

The book advocates for a ban on social media for children under 16 and the need for phone-free schools.

Several schools, including the elite British boarding school Eton College, have taken steps to reduce children’s reliance on smartphones. In July, BI reported that Eton College banned smartphones for first-year students and replace them with Nokia “brick” phones.

Meanwhile, about a dozen high schools in south London have jointly introduced a smartphone ban that will affect more than 13,000 students.