BRITAIN OPENS CONSULTATION ON CHILDREN'S SOCIAL MEDIA USE, TIGHTENS SCHOOL PHONE BANS

LONDON, Jan 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- 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, reported Xinhua.

The move signals a new phase in Britain's approach to regulating the digital environment for children, as policymakers face growing pressure from parents, schools and lawmakers to curb the expanding influence of social media and smartphones on daily life.

Backed by a national public discussion, the consultation will gather views from parents, young people and civil society on how to ensure children develop a healthier relationship with technology, the government said on Monday.

Alongside the consultation, immediate steps were announced to tighten mobile phone restrictions in schools. Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills), the school watchdog, will be required to check at every inspection whether phone bans are properly enforced, with schools expected to be "phone-free by default."

The policy shift comes amid mounting evidence that smartphones remain widely used in classrooms despite existing rules.

Official data show that 58 per cent of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used without permission in at least some lessons, rising to 65 per cent among older students.

The consultation will examine a broad set of regulatory options, including raising the digital age of consent, improving age-verification systems, introducing phone curfews to limit excessive use, and restricting potentially addictive design features such as "infinite scrolling" and "streaks."

The government will also publish evidence-based screen-time guidance for parents of children aged 5-16, following separate guidance for parents of under-fives due in April, aimed at helping families manage children's use of digital devices at home.

Updated school guidance will further clarify that pupils should not have access to mobile phones during lessons, breaks or between classes.

British media reported that the initiative also reflects growing political pressure for tougher action on children's online safety, with lawmakers from multiple parties backing proposals to ban under-16s from social media platforms.

The British government said it will respond to the consultation in the summer as part of a broader strategy to improve children's wellbeing in the digital age.

--BERNAMA-XINHUA