Smart Phones

I have a basic phone, which I carry with me when driving. I also have a smart phone, which I don't like much. It would drive me
mad if I had it on all the time, as most people me to do.

Sorry started another thread on this as the Education select committee has recommended that the next government ban smart phones for under 16s.
It's not only unenforceable its ridiculous.
My 11 year old DGD has one it gives her a little bit of freedom whilst reassuring her parents she is safe.
But if they are banned numerous 14-16 year olds and younger will use them anyway. Just like they Vape and sometimes smoke and drink (and even use drugs). Should we really be criminalising any more of their activities?

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t get your drift. If they can’t afford broadband how would a smartphone be of use to them? Do they just go somewhere that has free Wi-Fi and work on a tiny screen?

You h turn on your roaming. That enables you to use the data package you’re paying for.
If you only have a basic package you go somewhere where you join their system.

The way forward is for children to have a basic phone, cost £20 or 30 to make calls and texts no camera. Then have a tablet for schoolwork very little extra cost if any, they will not like it one bit but it will stop the screen time and abuse.

BlueBelle

How did we survive getting home from school without a phone? Isn’t it weird they weren’t around when I was at school or any of my children but we all got home safely each day.

My 90 minute journey to and from school would be far, far more dangerous now. (It wasn't particularly safe then)

How did we survive getting home from school without a phone? Isn’t it weird they weren’t around when I was at school or any of my children but we all got home safely each day.

You can track your child on a smart phone, which is handy when they're older and both parents are working.

I pressed post too early .
My point is about safeguarding Most schools do not allow use of phones in their building .Pupils are safer with a cheap non smart phone for communication . This is what several schools round where I live ask for .

GSM I fear you missed the point of my post . I am not saying that phones should be banned but that schoolchildren could manage with «brick” phones . Schools have banned smart phones as pupils were being mugged , sometimes with force , so pupils use non smart phones , cheap ones which have little or no resale value . I put in the e.g to show that such incidents are happening .Shows also we shouldn’t use our phones in the open.

My daughter has both of the grandchildren’s phones tethered to hers, so she monitors their activity.

I’ve worked with students who’ve used their phones to submit work.

We live rurally. Thanks to us both having smartphones I can track where my 13 year old is in a local town. It’s reassuring.

I'm not the best person to talk about any of this, so I'll be quiet.
I really do have no idea because I'm uninterested.
I'm confusing myself.

My older grandson is 10 and in P6. The children in his school have to hand their phones in to the teacher in the morning and don't get them back till the end of the day.
My youngest grandson is 6 and in P1. Different schools. He was given an iPad in February and has to bring it home every day to be charged. There is homework one day a week on it and his other homework is a reading book and a spelling jotter. I have no idea how the iPad works. Fortunately he does as does Mummy. All my grandchildren have grown up with devices and it would be very difficult to take them away now from schoolchildren as they are part of the curriculum and were essential during the pandemic when all school learning was online. Probably parents and schools need to check parental controls are in place though (having said that children at 5 know how to deactivate parental controls so possibly wouldn't work!) and keep checking they are safe. It is scary and the social media operators do not try hard enough. I have reported several times the scam advert for Seasalt on Facebook and today got a message from Meta to say they have looked at it and decided there is nothing wrong with it despite it being on the news! So frustrating!

I've no idea, but presumably.
A lot of people on temporary accommodation have to vacate their rooms during the day.

The job centre advises the library or themselves to access the internet.

I don’t get your drift. If they can’t afford broadband how would a smartphone be of use to them? Do they just go somewhere that has free Wi-Fi and work on a tiny screen?

Nothing wrong at all, except a dumb phone won't give internet access.

And, there are people who can't afford to eat, let alone pay wifi and and be able to buy secondhand.

MissAdventure

I hope people are going to be generous enough to supply computers to families with no computers, iPads, or whatever else is used to access online learning then.

Because there are people who do not have any other means than their phones.

A smartphone isn’t suitable for working online. What’s wrong with a pay as you go dumb phone and a cheap or second hand laptop or iPad? My son’s first laptop was a refurbished second hand one because I couldn’t afford a new one.

Laws are being made or changed to monitor children¨s use of media, not only smart-phones both in Denmark and Norway.

Schools are now allowed to tell children to turn off their phones during lessons and to disengage from the Internet on tablets and computers. It is clearly stated that the teacher taking the lesson has the right to enforce this.

For years, teachers were not allowed to do so, I may add.

Guidelines have been formulated stating how much time pre-school children and school children may spend using media. These guidelines are to help parents form a judgement as to what is suitable for their children, depending on age, and will, it is hoped, make it easier for parents to enforce their rules.

westendgirl

I think that school children do not need smart phones. An ordinary phone is adequate for contacting parents.
I do know that schools have banned smart phones because pupils were being mugged for them .This stealing of smart phones goes on all the time. My daughter was walking from Bank station in the city early one morning . A young lady who was on her phone was coming towards her. in a split second the phone was grabbed by a cyclist .That is a one of the reasons why smart phones should be banned.

You can’t ban smartphones because they are attractive to thieves. Where next? Ban expensive watches, handbags, jewellery? People need to be aware of their surroundings rather absorbed in their phones.

I hope people are going to be generous enough to supply computers to families with no computers, iPads, or whatever else is used to access online learning then.

Because there are people who do not have any other means than their phones.

...parents should take more responsibility for knowing what their children are up to?

Well good luck with that one 🙄

Earlier this year I was looking after a 10 year old boy whose sole topic of conversation was his X-box games.
Favourite at the time was "Dead Island 2."
I checked and it's an 18 certificate, with this write-up:

"This game features graphic violence against human-like zombie characters. These enemies can be stabbed, stamped upon, and attacked with weapons that produce corrosion and burning. There is frequent dismemberment and decapitation, as well as sight of bones being broken, with accompanying blood, wound and gore effects. The game also contains use of strong language ('fuck'). Dead bodies are frequently seen on the ground. Some have been cut in half or are missing limbs and there is often sight of internal organs. One scene shows a character removing a metal shard from their stomach, causing profuse bleeding. There are references to marijuana use and sight of marijuana use, although the player's character is not able to use the drug."

I had to tell him I didn't want to hear any talk about it in my house.
"I understand," he said, "because of the little children."
Nooo... 😑

Another 7 year old has been boring me with daily tales about his 12-certificate game; I've told him he shouldn't be playing it and I don't want to hear about it.
Both his parents are teachers 🤷

I think that school children do not need smart phones. An ordinary phone is adequate for contacting parents.
I do know that schools have banned smart phones because pupils were being mugged for them .This stealing of smart phones goes on all the time. My daughter was walking from Bank station in the city early one morning . A young lady who was on her phone was coming towards her. in a split second the phone was grabbed by a cyclist .That is a one of the reasons why smart phones should be banned.

There was a segment on Radio 4 this morning about the growing popularity of American parents to provide dumb phones for their children. They have access to phone calls and messaging only. And they are styled to look like smart phones. Let's hope that like many other things that come across the pond, this idea finds the same popularity

Norah

MissAdventure

If that's the only option available, then it's what people have to use.
I can barely see the font on mine, and if I enlarge it enough to read, then it only fits a couple of words on the screen. 🤭

Surely a computer is less expensive than a smart phone?

Not necessarily - you can get a basic smart phone for less than £70.

I really don't like all the online learning.
Just my personal take on it, because I've no time for it.

I think it's a poor substitute for being taught in a classroom.