Of the 900 children represented on the pact for Cornwall, about a quarter are from Falmouth and Penryn. As growing numbers of parents are choosing to not give their children a smartphone amongst fears of screen addiction, access to harmful content and children having less time to play and be with friends, Virgin media O2 has reported that sales of retro style basic phones has doubled in the last year.

The pact launched by a parents grassroots movement called Smartphone Free Childhood enables parents to pledge to delay getting their child a smartphone. Emily, the Regional Leader for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, explained: “The pact is anonymous but the results are published detailing the school and year group, so if you don't want to give your child a smartphone but want them to be reassured that they won't be the only one, you can sign and pact and also see how many others have signed as well. There is so much pressure on parents on this issue so the pact has been helpful."

Of the 17 schools in the Falmouth and Penryn area, 15 schools have children who have pledged to delay getting a smartphone.

Jo, a parent, described how the pact had helped her: "No one in my child's school had signed the pact so my school didn't appear on the results. I decided to sign as the first person for my child’s school and then told other parents and friends about it. Now lots of other families have signed from my school, so it's been helpful for my child." 

It is hoped that the more families to delay the less pressure there will be on parents to buy a smartphone and perhaps choose a retro style mobile phone instead which children can use to phone and text but doesn't have access to the internet.

For more information 

https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/

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