The second half of January was remarkable – in my breakfast reading, at least – for news and column inches of data and research, righteous rage and heartfelt appeals, all relating to school children’s use of social media and smartphones.
A Move to Protect the Under-Sixteens
Baroness Cass (the paediatrician who reviewed the NHS treatment of children with gender dysphoria) is leading a cross-party move in the Lords to ban under-sixteens from apps such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. She stated that ‘the longer we wait, the more children we fail’, adding that sextortion, cyberbullying and radicalisation are rampant.
The Impact on Cognitive Ability
The American cognitive neuroscientist, Jared Horvath, stated in January: ‘Gen Z is the first generation in modern history to underperform us on basically every cognitive measure we have, from basic attention to memory to literacy to numeracy to executive functioning, to even general IQ.’
Recently published UK data has been similarly alarming:
28% of children starting in reception classes in 2025 didn’t know how to open a book! Many just jabbed at the cover with a finger – or tried to scroll across it.
67% of fifteen-year-olds show no interest in leaving their homes at weekends, preferring to stay online in their bedrooms.
And we can probably assume that the journey from Years 1 to 11 is one of increasing addiction to smartphones, tablets and social media.
"Soulless Slop" and the Loss of Meaning
Jonathan Haidt (author of ‘The Anxious Generation’) was in London recently and commented: ‘The next generation is losing the ability to think and to concentrate between online dopamine hits and dips, but worse, they don’t seem to see the point in life anymore; this soulless slop feels meaningless. We’re facing a civilisational crisis.’
He also pointed out that where countries have removed smartphones from schools, educational attainment is higher, with lower rates of depression and fewer victims of sexual harassment and sextortion.
Restoring the Patience for Learning
Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector for Ofsted, in his annual report published this year, stated that both social media apps and smartphones in schools were key causes of poor behaviour because they eroded ‘the necessary patience for learning’ and promoted ‘disrespectful attitudes and behaviour’ leading to a record number of exclusions and suspensions last year.
The Result of Decisive Action
There is a growing hope that the government will take decisive action on this front. There have already been reports published from schools who have acted unilaterally to ban smartphones from school premises and found that playtimes are noisier and happier, hardly any children go to the toilet during class (they no longer need to check their text messages!) and teachers can get on with teaching. Students are also signing up in those schools for more sport and lunchtime clubs.
Beyond the Screen: A Call to Reconnect
Alongside such a ban, there surely has to be a focus on – and commitment to – alternative entertainment, interest groups and youth clubs where children and young people learn the art of face-to-face social interaction and explore interests and hobbies away from the screen.
To support that process, there needs to be a similar commitment to disengagement from screens in the parental community. Staff in primary schools have spoken of their dismay at seeing children try to connect with parents at the school gates, only for the parents to not even look up from their phones.
Parents and foster carers surely need to lead the way in exploring and expanding their children’s creativity. Are mealtimes family affairs in your home – or are they times when everyone has their phone on the table, checking their screens? Just asking.
Martha
Social Media, Selfies And Sexting course
This Social Media, Selfies And Sexting course helps learners understand how to support children and young people with social media and staying safe online.
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