Change of mind on smartphone bans for children

Bans on smartphones for children were being rowed back on internationally, being reintroduced “in a mediated and moderated way”, a conference was told.

An annual Women in Media conference in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, heard how children regarded online activity as part of life, but some were concerned for their own safety.

A single body needed to be set up along the lines of the Road Safety Authority to issue guidelines on digital use and a dialogue needed be opened with children and young people on what they wanted, a panel discussion was told.