The Guardian view on children and smartphones: setting some limits is a good idea | Editorial

Mobile phone use is not the biggest issue facing schools - or society. But device-free time is important

The genie is out of the bottle. With the advent of smartphones and smartwatches, human life has moved online. Anyone seeking to curtail young people's participation in the online world is as doomed as the fools who can't figure out how to use the wishes gifted them in fairytales. The social ills blamed on the internet have complex causes that can't be fixed by blocking children's access.

This is a caricature of the tech-positive outlook. In real life, most people recognise that the portable computers we carry around with us make excessive demands on our time and attention. Just as children need support to develop healthy eating habits, they need encouragement to use the internet in moderation - especially when very young. But reluctance to give in to unrealistic ban them!" messages about smartphones can shade into an impression that there is really nothing to be done. Or that if there is, it should be done by parents.

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