Majority of Parents Want Smartphones Banned for Under-16s: Poll

A majority of parents think the government should ban smartphones for children under 16 years of age, a poll has found. The charity Parentkind published the results from its poll on Thursday, showing that 58 percent of parents would support the idea of introducing the ban, with 33 percent opposing. While a majority backed the ban, the poll revealed a contrast in support between parents of primary and secondary school-aged children. More than three in four (77 percent) parents of younger children backed the ban, compared to only 16 percent of parents of older children. The findings come after the government gave schools in England non-statutory guidance on prohibiting the use of mobile phones during school hours, including at break times....