'Big six' mobile phone firms to stop selling smartphones to children under 13

The Minister for Education has welcomed the announced that six of the leading mobile phone operators in Ireland are to support a government initiative to restrict the use of smartphones by young children

Norma Foley met with representatives of Vodafone, Three, eir, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media and An Post Mobile recently seeking their support for the 'Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free' initiative.

Last year, the Department of Education launched a programme encouraging primary schools and parents' associations to introduce voluntary bans on smartphones for children aged under 13.

Now, the six telecommunications companies, which control 95% of the Irish mobile phone market, say they will support the initiative by not allowing the sale of smartphones to primary school children.

"I think it's very important that these mobile phone providers  are stepping  up - they recognise there is an issue here - and that they will endorse and support this initiative," said Minister Foley following the announcement.

The minister, who did not rule out an outright ban in future, told Newstalk Breakfast, that educating parents about the dangers that smartphones pose to their children is key.

"We know that children as young as six or seven are being exposed to content that no parents would want them to be exposed to," she stated adding: "We are working with parents associations in our schools; we are providing information to our education centres, we are hosting online webinars to ensure that parents are fully appraised of what's happening in the smartphone world for younger children," she commented.

I am delighted that six mobile operators - Vodafone, Three, eir, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media and An Post Mobile - have now confirmed their support for the voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school. pic.twitter.com/tAntlyxT7X

— Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) May 22, 2024

When pressed about intruding a legal ban on the sale of smartphones to children, Ms Foley commented: "A ban, for it it to work, must be based on information - people must have an understanding as to why it's not right for children to have a smartphone in the first place. You can be 100% assured - I have made it very clear from the beginning - we will do what needs to be done here.