A year after teachers in St Albans asked parents not to give smartphones to children under 14, the initiative has seen notable success, though the city remains far from smartphone-free. The scheme, coordinated by head teachers across primary schools, aimed to combat the negative effects of smartphone use on children's development, including increased anxiety and exposure to inappropriate content.
Matthew Tavender, head teacher of Cunningham Hill primary, reported that the proportion of year 6 pupils with smartphones dropped from 75% in December 2023 to just 12% a year later. Similar declines were noted by other school heads. Tavender hopes the movement will continue into secondary school, making smartphone ownership among children as shocking as seeing a child smoking.
The initiative gained national and international attention after being highlighted by local editor Matt Adams. However, challenges remain. Tavender noted an increase in police involvement related to smartphone use, including an incident where a photograph taken as a joke was widely shared, requiring the school to contact dozens of parents and police.
Teachers across St Albans report dealing with children as young as five or six watching inappropriate content. Tavender emphasised that the highly addictive nature of smartphones is having lasting effects on young brains, echoing concerns raised by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt in his book The Anxious Generation.
