Education Secretary, Norma Foley, is facing widespread calls to implement a nationwide ban on the usage of mobile phones as educational tools in secondary schools, following the argument that they serve as unwarranted distractions for the learners. The advocacy was put forward by Green Party Senator, Róisín Garvey, noting a serious issue regarding students’ propensity to misuse their phones during classroom hours.
Ms Garvey talked about how some academic institutions are freely permitting their students to make use of phones for tasks such as taking pictures or the usage of Microsoft Teams, a well-known professional communication platform. She further issued a reminder that numerous school administrations have effectively put in place regulations where all phones must be deposited in a designated box during class hours.
While acknowledging the reality that some schools are equipped with technologically advanced resources like computer tablets for teams usage, Ms. Garvey emphasised on many other schools’ dependency on mobile phones. She advocated for a considerable switch, promoting the complete desertion of mobile phone use in learning environments.
Ms. Garvey proclaimed her desire for the Education Minister to provide every learner with a tablet, a proposal significantly cheaper than the country’s current investment towards resolving the escalating mental health crises confronting its youth.
In response to a motion proposed by Fine Gael seeking a prohibition on smartphone ownership for those under 13 years, Ms Garvey stated her arguments. In her counterclaim, Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery Kearney emphasised the necessity for substantial action and government-backed direction in addressing the issue.
Sensor Kearney recognised the voluntary efforts of many schools to institute phone use regulations. However, she urged the Government to set an appropriate cultural tone by halting phone ownership for under 13s. In addition, she advocated for legal reinforcement of the digital age of consent at 16 years.
Finally, Senator Kearney cited research data from CyberSafeKids in her argument, revealing worrying trends. According to the research, 24% of six-year-olds in Ireland own a smartphone. Moreover, 45% of 10-year olds are given the liberty to use smartphones within their bedrooms. The research further highlights the fact that only 28% of parents employ parental control measures. In contrast, 20% trust in the potential advantages offered by internet usage for their children to outweigh the associated risks.
Senator Seery Kearney believes that parents may not fully recognise the harmful aspects of smartphone use in children, which includes the detrimental effect on sports and physical activities, social development and interaction. As smartphones are purposefully designed to appeal to youngsters, their misuse can be highly problematic.
During a recent meeting of the Oireachtas, attended by the Ombudsman for Children’s youth committee, which comprises teenagers, the general consensus was negative towards smartphone use before the age of 13. Seery Kearney pointed out that some members had owned phones prior to turning six, which had, in their opinion, contributed to mental health problems, leading to regrets about early ownership.
Despite understanding these concerns, Catherine Martin, Minister for Media, indicated that imposing an outright ban on smartphone ownership for children under 13 is problematic due to complex issues related to regulation. This includes determining phone ownership and who would be held responsible for breaching a potential ban, given the purchaser and user might be different individuals.
Further complication arises from potential online sales from other member states of the EU, due to the EU Single Market principles about the free movement of goods and services. Martin suggested that the primary problem lies more with access to social media apps on the phone by children, rather than ownership itself.
As such, the government is prioritising the management of children’s smartphone access and usage through a blend of community efforts and national initiatives, including a policy issued by the Minister for Education titled the “Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free”.