Lincolnshire Parents Champion Smartphone Ban for Nippers

In a bid to shield their primary school-aged children from the potentially harmful effects of digital devices, parents in the Lincolnshire town of Stamford are being called upon to put their thumbprints on a pledge. The Stamford Cyberwise Campaign is rallying parents to prohibit their children from owning a smartphone prior to the conclusion of their primary education. The campaign also advocates for barring the young ones from social media until they hit the teens. The campaign’s driving force stems from growing apprehensions surrounding the impact of digital devices on children’s mental well-being. Over 200 Stamford parents have already signed the pledge, and a commendable 220 folk have enrolled in workshops across seven primary schools in the town. The campaign is spearheaded by The Conversation, an organisation established by former teachers Gemma Holbird and Sarah Jane Sauntson, which fervently supports child welfare. Similar campaigns are sprouting across the UK, in response to the national discourse sparked by the Netflix drama, Adolescence. The Stamford Cyberwise Campaign, which currently focuses on Stamford’s schools, has plans to spread its wings across Lincolnshire, say the organisers.