Smartphone-free childhood?

Information

BSL  interpreted

The statistics are alarming. Half of all nine-year-olds in the UK own a smartphone, half of children under 13 years have accessed online pornography and almost half of British parents (42%) feel they have little or no control over the information social media platforms are collecting about their children. Screen use is now impacting the development, educational attainment, sleep, mental and physical health of children and young people, not to mention the privacy risks in the online world. While some countries and schools consider bans, what are the social media platforms’ responsibilities?

Chair: Douglas Ross MSP, Convener, Education, Children and Young People Committee 

Panellists: 

Michael Murray is Head of Regulatory Policy at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator. He leads on policy development related to the children’s code and on children’s privacy engagement with online and digital services, regulators and civil society organisations in the UK and internationally.

Professor Matthew Sadlier is a member of health professionals for safer screens and is a consultant psychiatrist working in the Mater Hospital Dublin and UCD. He has a clinical and research interest in the effects of digital technology on mental health. Professor Sadlier has previously performed stand-up comedy at the Fringe.

Professor Andy Phippen holds the position of Professor of IT Ethics and Digital Rights at Bournemouth University and serves as a visiting professor at the University of Suffolk. He specialises in digital rights, online safety, and the ethical implications of technology in society. He has focussed extensively on the social contexts of information and communication technologies including data protection, sexting and peer abuse. (online)

Greg McDowall is Headteacher of Portobello High School, Edinburgh, and has more than 20 years' experience in education. Greg has formerly led schools in West Lothian and Edinburgh and his interests include curriculum design, interdisciplinary learning, numeracy and mathematics and social design in school improvement.

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament