A smartphone law is the sensible option
JUST three days have passed since this newspaper revealed how Terry O’Sullivan, principal of Blennerville National School in Co. Kerry, persuaded parents that they shouldn’t allow their children to have smartphones.
It is greatly to Mr O’Sullivan’s credit that he convincingly argued the merits of introducing a ban for the good of his pupils. Yet some politicians have tried to use the success of his scheme to claim that regulating the devices should be left to individual schools and parents.
The Irish Daily Mail makes no apology whatsoever for opposing this stance.
Such is the threat posed by smartphones to our children in terms of their education, development and well-being – both physical and mental – that nothing less than legislation will do.
Against that backdrop, it is to be greatly welcomed that Mr O’Sullivan has now stated in unequivocal terms that laws are indeed required. He says: ‘If something was legislated then it would greatly improve the school lives of children, their parents and teachers.’
It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks and months that certain elements in the corridors of power are reluctant to grasp this particular nettle. But given the grave nature of the issues involved, it simply isn’t good enough to try to throw the matter back on teachers and parents.
The bottom line is that the Government needs to move without any further delay. Failing to do so would be a betrayal of our young, as well as being an act of abject moral and political cowardice.
Meanwhile, the intervention of Health Minister Simon Harris on the issue is also to be welcomed. Mr Harris has voiced his support for the developments in Kerry and also praised the Mail’s ‘Protect Our Kids Online’ campaign.
The evidence is there in abundance. Not only are youngsters with smartphones in danger of being groomed by cyber-predators, they also face a greater risk of anxiety, depression and suicide.
For all the positives that the internet has delivered, it has also brought many negatives. No one should be in any doubt that it can be a very dangerous place indeed.
Accordingly, common sense dictates that the simplest way of protecting children from its pernicious effects is to restrict their access to smartphones. And the only effective and sure-fire way of doing that is for our political leaders to bring in the necessary legislative measures.