The British conservative government is "evaluating" the possibility of outright banning the purchase of smartphones by children and young people under the age of 16, to counteract the phenomenon of forms of compulsive addiction to their use. At least according to what the Guardian reports today, citing ministerial sources according to which no such decision actually appears imminent. The executive led by Rishi Sunak already imposed a legal ban on the use of mobile phones in schools in England and Wales a couple of months ago. But according to the Guardian, the prospect of a draconian general ban on the sale to minors is also being explored - on the model of the one in force for minors on alcohol or of the recently further strengthened one on cigarettes and e-cigs for vaping - in the face of surveys which accredit a growing popular consensus on the matter among adults: up to 64%. Levels of popularity that some in Sunak's staff appear tempted to exploit in the face of opinion polls that are still disastrous for the Tories, set back by 20 points or more by the Labor opposition in view of the general elections expected approximately by the end of the year. The implementation of a possible total ban on the sale of mobile phones to very young people would also lead to many problems and potential repercussions, underlines the same newspaper. Citing anonymously a minister who does not hesitate to exclude it as "out of reality": at least in the short or medium term.
GB is considering banning mobile phones for under 16s, but for now says no
2024-04-12T15:12:08.620Z
Highlights: The British Conservative government is "evaluating" the possibility of outright banning the purchase of smartphones by children and young people under the age of 16. The executive led by Rishi Sunak already imposed a legal ban on the use of mobile phones in schools in England and Wales a couple of months ago. The prospect of a draconian general ban is also being explored, according to the Guardian. The implementation of a possible total ban would also lead to many problems and potential repercussions, underlines the same newspaper, citing anonymously a minister who does not hesitate to exclude it as "out of reality": at least in the short or medium term. The Guardian reports today, citing ministerial sources according to which no such decision actually appears imminent, and that the decision is not expected to be made before the end of the year. The article is based on a report by The Guardian, which is published by arrangement with the UK’s Department of Health and Social Security, and which is editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal.
The British Conservative government is "evaluating" the hypothesis of outright banning the purchase of smartphones by children and young people under the age of 16, to combat the phenomenon of forms of compulsive addiction to their use. (HANDLE)