Baroness Harriet Harman demands ban on smartphones in schools
- Baroness Harriet Harman has amplified calls for a ban on smartphone use in schools, citing the harmful content teenagers encounter online.
- She criticized the Prime Minister for not taking action to regulate technology companies that fail to protect children.
- The rising pressure on the government suggests there is imminent need for decisive legislative action to address smartphone safety in educational contexts.
In the United Kingdom, controversy surrounds the issue of smartphone use among students in schools, with calls for decisive action on online safety. Recently, Baroness Harriet Harman expressed her concerns about the harmful content accessible to children via smartphones and argued that it is imperative for the government to intervene. During an appearance on Sky News's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, she emphasized the urgent need for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to prioritize the safety of young people. This statement comes amid a broader public discourse about the influence of technology on youth and the alarming rise of issues such as misogyny fueled by online content. Baroness Harman pointed out the distress parents feel regarding their children's exposure to inappropriate material on their smartphones. She explicated that the technology companies have the capability to take more responsibility and safeguard children. Yet, the crucial question remains whether the Prime Minister will take a stand for families seeking protection or capitulate to the tech industry's reluctance to implement vital reforms. Harman's comments underscore a growing frustration with technological progress outpacing legislative measures. This issue gained further traction after Sir Keir Starmer's roundtable discussion, which included discussions with the creators of the Netflix series