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What just happened? British mobile network operator EE has issued guidance on age appropriate smartphone usage that parents can use to help safeguard the digital wellbeing of minors. The initiative is in response to rising concerns among parents regarding online safety, screen time, and how the use of digital devices can affect a child's wellbeing.
EE warns against giving children under the age of 11 a smartphone. Kids in this age group are best served by a limited capability device like a feature phone that only allows for calling and texting, EE said. Smartphones are acceptable for children aged 11 – 13 although parental controls are a must, access to social media should be restricted, and a family sharing app like Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link is highly advised.
Teens between the age of 13 and 16 can have a bit more leeway, EE notes, although parental controls to restrict access to inappropriate sites is still recommended. Social media access is acceptable but EE recommends linking accounts to a parent or guardian account for proper oversight.
A survey from Common Sense Media and the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital last year found that the average teenager uses their phone for more than four hours per day, and that nearly half of that time is spent in TikTok. Worse yet, more than half of respondents said they receive north of 200 notifications each day while some fielded up to 5,000 in a single 24-hour period.
Social media is so out of control that the US Surgeon General wants platforms to use warning labels like those found on alcohol and cigarettes to convey risks associated with usage. Dr. Vivek Murthy believes the labels would serve as a regular reminder to parents about the potential harm that social media can have on young minds.
The American Psychological Association in 2023 issued a health advisory regarding adolescent social media usage and offered up suggestions that both parents and platform owners could find valuable.