The Impact of Delayed Smartphone Access

Delaying smartphone access for children has shown positive effects in one Irish town, where schools encouraged parents to postpone phone purchases until at least age 11. This initiative resulted in a significant decrease in the number of students with smartphones, with only a handful of pupils in the final year owning one, compared to nearly all before the policy. Teachers observed that this change has helped reduce feelings of exclusion and social anxiety among young students, contributing to a healthier school environment. Parents have expressed relief, feeling they no longer face the dilemma of providing their children with smartphones or risking social isolation.