Your say / children
‘Inaction on children’s smartphone use is no longer an option’
Smartphones and the digital environment have reshaped the experience of growing up.
Today, 97 per cent of 12-year-olds own a smartphone, meaning children are constantly exposed to notifications and algorithmically engineered feeds designed to maximise engagement.
Research from the University of Birmingham suggests that teenagers spend, on average, nearly 35 hours a week on their phones – the equivalent of a full-time job.
This time often comes at the expense of outdoor play, exercise, focused study and sleep.
And while young people may be more connected than ever online, many report feeling increasingly isolated. Loneliness, it seems, cannot be cured by likes, comments or followers.
In Bristol, 2018 was a tragic year in which eight students lost their lives to suicide.
For Dr Susie Davies, then a GP at the University of Bristol, this was deeply personal. She was profoundly affected by the death of a patient who had severe phone addiction, at the same time her own daughter – then in Year 6 – was asking for a smartphone.
Convinced that smartphone and social media use were contributing to the mental health crisis she was witnessing, Dr Davies joined with a group of parents to take collective action.
Together, they agreed to delay giving their children smartphones as they transitioned into secondary school.
From this initiative, Dr Davies founded the charity Papaya – Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adolescents – to help families and educators better understand the impact of technology on developing minds.
The evidence of harm can no longer be ignored.
Teenagers with problematic smartphone use are twice as likely to experience anxiety and three times more likely to have depression.
Meanwhile, NHS data shows a 93 per cent increase in self-harm among young people over the last decade.
The impacts extend beyond mental health. Prolonged smartphone use is linked to childhood obesity, postural deviations, muscular fatigue, and impaired neuromuscular efficiency.
In January 2026, 23 royal colleges jointly urged the government to recognise these harms.
The UK government is now consulting on social media restrictions for under-16s.
As part of this national conversation, the Bristol East Constituency Labour Party recently hosted an educational session with Dr Davies, alongside a debate on the issue.
Hosted by Bristol East MP, Kerry McCarthy, chaired by Nicola Beech, and organised by Rebecca Brocklebank, the event also featured Maya Thomas of Big Brother Watch and 14-year-old Matthew Havelock, drawing a large audience.
The discussion highlighted both the urgency of the issue and the complexity of potential solutions.
Matthew emphasised the importance of open conversations between parents and children in shaping healthier digital habits, while cautioning that young people would seek ways around restrictions.
At the same time, he highlighted the benefits of social media, from supporting homework to maintaining friendships over distance.
Maya Thomas raised concerns about the privacy implications of enforcing an under-16s ban, particularly around age-verification technologies, such as facial recognition or ID uploads.
She also pointed to the positive role social media can play for marginalised young people.
Dr Davies argued for raising the digital age of consent to 16 and adopting a features-based ban.
She highlighted the addictive design of platforms that tap into dopamine reward pathways, the vulnerability of developing brains, and the risks of cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to harmful content – particularly to vulnerable children – alongside the growing pressure on NHS services.
This discussion reflects the concerns being voiced in homes across the country.
Children may make up 20 per cent of the population, but they are 100 per of our future and it’s clear that inaction is no longer an option.
Kerry McCarthy emphasised the importance of meaningful consultation and encouraged constituents to share their views.
To book a talk or workshop with Papaya, visit www.papayatalks.com
This is an opinion piece by Rebecca Eve Brocklebank, vice chair of Bristol East Constituency Labour Party
Main photo: Andrey K on Unsplash
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