Labour reviewing school smartphone bans' effects on teenagers

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, will examine smartphone bans in English schools as concerns rise about social media's effects on teenagers. This decision comes as Members of Parliament (MPs) push for action. The education department will monitor a selection of schools to assess how well they enforce phone bans and the challenges they encounter. Current guidance suggests that all schools should ban mobile phones during the entire school day. However, it does not provide details on how schools should enforce these rules. Phillipson is reportedly frustrated by the lack of monitoring about adherence to this guidance. The government has no immediate plans to create a law banning phones in schools, citing potential complications. The monitoring will evaluate if schools are following the guidelines, how many have phone bans, and the impact on student behavior. Further questions about smartphones will be included in future national behavior surveys for deeper insights. A government source criticized the previous administration for failing to ensure compliance with the guidance. A recent survey by Amnesty International revealed that many young social media users face online misogyny. Nearly 73% of respondents reported seeing misogynistic content, and 70% believe sexist language has increased online. As a result, 44% reported negative impacts on their mental health. The Netflix drama "Adolescence," which addresses online misogyny and its consequences, has drawn attention from MPs. Labour MP Anneliese Midgley has called for more action against online radicalization. The writer of the series has suggested that parliament should screen it to discuss social media restrictions for teenagers. Cabinet ministers are divided on whether to take stronger action. Some, including the health secretary, advocate for more robust measures due to mental health concerns. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott described banning phones in schools as a “no-brainer,” acknowledging the existing guidance has failed. An amendment proposing a total smartphone ban in schools was rejected by the government. Public opinion polls show that many parents and nearly half of the UK population support a full ban on smartphones in schools. A bill from Labour's Josh MacAlister sought to grant headteachers the authority to enforce phone-free environments but was significantly reduced in scope.