Senator Erin McGreehan has welcomed the decision of the country’s leading mobile phone operators to support Minister for Education Norma Foley’s plan for voluntary agreements to keep childhood smartphone free.
Vodafone, Three, eir, Tesco Mobile , Virgin Media and An Post Mobile have all confirmed that they support guidelines providing advice for the setting up of voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school.
Senator McGreehan said: “Whenever I meet parents locally, I hear their concerns about the impact on children of smartphones in school, social media and being constantly online.
“That is why I welcome the news that leading mobile phone operators have all confirmed that they support the “Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free” guide for parents and parents’ associations of primary school age children.
“This guide provide advice for the setting up of voluntary agreements between parents to avoid buying smartphones for their children while in primary school.
“Research clearly shows mental health, educational and social damage linked to smartphone use among children, but parents and schools struggle to know what to do.
“ I am encouraged by the positive response to tackling smartphone use among children by parents and parents’ associations and I would like to commend them for all the work they have put in. These voluntary agreements offer a guide for parents and I would encourage their take up wherever possible.
