A mother whose teenage daughter was subjected to a brutal attack on a bus on the way home from school says under 16s should be banned from having smartphones.
The deplorable assault on Kaylynn Donald was filmed by baying teens and the footage was plastered over social media. It left the 13-year-old girl feeling suicidal and now her mum Vicky, 36, is campaigning for change.
A new poll reveals most parents believe the Government should outlaw the devices for youngsters following a spate of violent attacks on children which were filmed on phones. Vicky wants to see safer phones for children introduced in the UK as charity Parentkind found more than four in five (83 per cent) parents believe smartphones are “harmful” to young people and called on all political parties to put the ban in their manifestos ahead of the general election.
"Kids are so enthralled in worrying about likes on social media that they’re not focussed on doing the right thing. Like in Kaylynn’s case, instead of going to get someone to help everyone has their phones out taking videos to then share online for likes and content," Vicky said.
"Smartphones are giving kids access to content they’re absolutely not ready for at that young age. The only way is to take that temptation away from them and the only way to do that in this day and age is to get rid of their smartphones."
Daily Record is championing a campaign around smartphone safety. Our Kids... Our Future campaign was launched last year in response to the attacks teenagers are enduring and their abuse online after videos are posted on social media platforms.
Kaylynn was attacked in Ladybank, Fife, as she made her way home from school. She suffered multiple blows to the body and head and had clumps of her hair ripped out Vicky says parents and schools try to do enough but the Government must do more to attempt to end this behaviour.
The mum continued: "The Government are washing their hands and putting the blame back onto parents, social media companies and teachers. It’s time to stop passing the buck and start doing what they need to do to protect young people. Parents can’t do it alone and neither can schools.”
The Parentkind poll of 2,496 parents of school-aged children found that 58% of parents believe the Government should introduce a ban on smartphones for under-16s. The figure is even higher among parents of primary school children, where more than three in four (77%) would back a smartphone ban for under-16s.
The online survey conducted over the last two months found nearly nine in 10 (89 per cent) parents said they were concerned their children could face online bullying and abuse through using a smartphone, while 87 per cent were worried they might access harmful content online.
But only 16 per cent of parents of secondary school children supported a full ban. The new research comes as Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, is campaigning for an age limit for smartphone usage and stricter controls on access to social media apps.
Her calls are echoed by Vicky, who said: “I want to see under 16 smartphones introduced, which for some reason are only available in America and aren’t carried in the UK. This is something I’m campaigning for. It’s the same as a smartphone but doesn’t allow the use of social media or restricted content websites.
“I had a meeting with the headteacher of a local school about banning smartphones but sadly phones have become an integral part of the school day. Teachers rely on them now as part of their teaching. The Government passes the buck onto schools that are underfunded and overstretched. They can’t enforce a ban.
“We’re in a situation where if a child doesn’t have a smartphone in school they could actually be missing out on work. Governments will have to start funding schools properly so that smart devices are no longer required in schools.”
The Daily Record launched the Our Kids…Our Future campaign in February 2023 after a series of shocking attacks involving children across Scotland. The Scottish publication has been speaking to victims, their families, police, experts and young people themselves to find out how we can all play a part in tackling this damaging trend.
Angela Jarvis, the mum of an autistic schoolgirl who was beaten unconscious at a skatepark in Glasgow, has also called for restrictions on what under 16s can access on phones.
Abbie was just 12 years old when she was left in hospital for two days after being attacked in Drumchapel just three weeks before the assault on Kaylynn. The attack was also filmed and shared amongst other youngsters.
Angela, 44, said: “Yes, we should limit what children under 16 can do on their phones but I don’t think a complete ban should be in place. From my perspective, I’d hate for my children to go to school without a phone. It’s keeping them safe and secure at all times. If my daughter didn’t have access to her phone that day I wouldn’t have managed to race up to her when she was unconscious. She had managed to send me a jumbled text.
“Abbie’s lifeline now is her phone because she can’t leave the house. She learns a lot online and it gives her access to worldwide friendships. But I also keep a close check on who she is speaking to. This is just part of a big web of problems. Kids need phones and a full ban is punishing all kids because of the actions of some. I do think the responsibility lies with parents and social media giants to monitor the content kids are exposed to.”
Last week, Schools Minister Damian Hinds told MPs on the education select committee that getting a mobile phone had become a “rite of passage” for nearly all children.
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More than half (53%) of parents surveyed in the latest poll said they have felt pressure to give their child a smartphone at a younger age than they would prefer.
Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: “Society has sleepwalked into a position where children are addicted to harmful ‘electronic drugs’ and have no escape from their digital dealers.
“We are starting to understand the harms of social media and the unrestricted gateway smartphones provide to vile online content but it seems parents already get it.
“Most parents want the Government to help them overcome the peer pressure that leads to their children needing mobile phones by banning these devices and a huge majority of parents of primary school children back a ban because they are terrified of their children becoming ensnared by a smartphone as they get older.
“The pressure is starting to mount on the Government to act and political parties to come together on this issue to protect children. This should be as uncontroversial as banning vaping for children. Every party should put a ban on smartphones in their manifesto, something we will be calling for along with parent groups across the country.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The educational and social benefits of technology are immense, but this should not come at the expense of children’s safety. That is why we issued guidance on banning smartphones in schools last month to support teachers and keep schools as a place of learning.
“The majority of social media sites say they do not allow under-13s. Once implemented the Online Safety Act will require platforms to enforce their age limits and protect children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Scotland’s schools should be safe learning environments for all – violence and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is completely unacceptable.
“While the Scottish Government does not have the power to unilaterally ban mobile phones in schools, we will soon bring forward refreshed guidance on their use.
“As a starting point for this guidance, head teachers should be empowered to take any action they deem necessary, including the restriction of their use.”
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