UK Mobile Provider Recommends No Smartphones for Kids Under 11

A leading UK mobile operator, EE, has issued a surprising recommendation: elementary school students shouldn’t have smartphones. The company advises parents of children under 11 to consider purchasing ‘dumb phones’ instead, which are limited to basic communication functions like texting and calling. EE’s advice comes in response to rising concerns about screen time and online safety among children. Data reveals that 9 out of 10 children under 11 in the UK own a smartphone, despite most social media platforms requiring a minimum age of 13 for account creation. This has led to widespread concern over potential harm to children’s well-being and development. The UK Parliament’s education committee recently proposed considering a ban on smartphone use for children under 16 and in schools to combat excessive screen time. EE suggests that parents of children between 11 and 13 who do have smartphones should enable parental controls to limit online access and monitor their children’s activities. For teenagers aged 13 to 16, EE recommends parental controls to restrict access to inappropriate content and manage online time.