MPs urge under-16s UK smartphone ban and statutory ban in schools

Commons education committee chair says online world poses serious dangers and parents face uphill struggle

MPs have urged the next government to consider a total ban on smartphones for under 16-year-olds and a statutory ban on mobile phone use in schools as part of a crackdown on screen time for children.

Members of the House of Commons education committee made the recommendations in a report into the impact of screen time on education and wellbeing, which also called on ministers to raise the threshold for opening a social media account to 16.