Do not give smartphones to children under 11, EE advises

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Parents should not buy smartphones for children under the age of 11, one of Britain’s largest network providers has warned in new guidance.

The EE advice recommends that primary school children are not given smartphones with access to the internet and social media sites, but “limited capability devices” which only allow them to text and call.

When parents choose to give smartphones to children aged 16 or below, the company advises enabling parental control features and, if under 13, restricting access to social media.

EE said these steps aim to “safeguard children in the digital world”.

Recent reports have suggested that excessive smartphone use could be linked to mental health issues among teenagers and unrestricted internet access might expose young children to online harm.

The new guidance – which will be made public on Sunday – comes as campaigners and MPs have urged tougher action to be taken on the issue.

EE said it will also introduce updated in-app controls and has launched a national school campaign aimed at educating young people about responsible digital behaviour.

Almost a quarter of five to seven-year-olds now own a smartphone, a study by communications regulator Ofcom found in April.

Mat Sears, corporate affairs director for EE, said: “While technology and connectivity have the power to transform lives, we recognise the growing complexity of smartphones can be challenging for parents and caregivers.

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

Children aged 11-13 should have family sharing capabilities installed on their first phone, the guidance says.

This allows parents to monitor screen time, track app usage and set time limits for specific applications.

Children aged 13-16 should be allowed to join social media, but the guidance suggests this should be linked to a parent or guardian account.

Parental controls should also be used to manage access to inappropriate sites, content and platforms, the advice says.

Staff will be trained on the new guidance in the coming days and weeks, although smartphone sales will not be age-restricted, EE said.

More than four in five (83%) of parents said in a survey by charity Parentkind in April that they feel smartphones are “harmful” to children and young people, and 58% support a mobile phone ban for under-16s.

The House of Commons Education Committee said in May that the Government should consider a total ban on phones for under-16s and that tougher action is needed to limit screen time and combat online harm.

But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in July that he does not support “simply banning” phones for children under 16, adding that the Government needs “to look again” at what content children are accessing online.

Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, has campaigned for an age limit to smartphone usage and stricter controls on access to social media apps.

In February, the previous government gave schools in England non-statutory guidance intended to stop the use of mobile phones during school hours.

Carolyn Bunting, chief executive of online safety group Internet Matters, said: “This initiative is timely and much-needed.

“Parents and guardians want their children to be able to stay connected with them and to experience the benefits of digital technology, but they are also concerned about online safety and wellbeing.

“Our recent research showed that parents want to make their own decisions about their children’s use of technology, but that many would value guidance to help them in doing so.

“It is fantastic that EE is supporting parents with age-specific advice to support children’s diverse technology needs.”