Phone sales to under-16s may be banned

CHILDREN under 16 could be banned from buying mobile phones under proposals being considered by ministers.

Michelle Donelan, the Technology Secretary, is looking at imposing the restriction in an attempt to protect young people from the harmful effects of social media.

It comes amid a growing government crackdown on children’s use of phones, with Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, issuing guidance earlier this year urging schools to ban mobile phones in the classroom, saying the move would reduce disruption and improve behaviour.

An Ofcom poll last year found that 97 per cent of children have a phone by the age of 12, while 99 per cent of teenagers have one by the time they are 17.

Outlawing phone sales to under-16s is one option being considered under a consultation on protecting children online being drawn up by Ms Donelan’s department.

Any new law would only ban the sales of mobile phones directly to children, and would not stop parents from buying their children phones.

The minister is also considering making it easier for parents to put parental controls on devices and banning under16s from signing up to social media websites such as Facebook. Most allow children access from the age of 13.

A source at the department said no decision had yet been reached. “Currently, you have to be 18 to get your own phone contract anyway, so that suggests most under-18s with a phone do so with parental consent,” the source added.

The move comes in the wake of the murder of Brianna Ghey, a teenager who was killed by two 15-year-olds who watched violent content online. Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, is campaigning for under-16s to be banned from accessing social media.

Last month a poll found that most parents want the Government to ban smartphones for under-16s. About 58 per cent back a smartphone ban for under-16s, according to the Parentkind poll of 2,496 parents in England.

A government spokesman did not deny the potential ban last night, adding: “Our commitment to making the UK the safest place to be a child online is unwavering, as evidenced by our landmark Online Safety Act.”