My nephew, a student in Norfolk, UK, was seriously bullied at school. His peers took photos of him using filters and posted them on social media. He felt isolated, especially during break times when all the other children were engrossed in their phones rather than interacting with each other. The situation escalated to such an extent that he no longer wanted to leave his house or return to school and is now being homeschooled.

This story is not unique; it's a growing concern for many families across the UK. The overuse of smartphones and social media can have damaging effects on children’s mental health and social skills development. Research by Ofcom found that 83% of teenagers own a smartphone and spend around 21 hours per week online (Ofcom Report, 2019). This constant connectivity can lead to cyberbullying incidents like my nephew experienced.

We believe that banning smartphones in high schools will encourage face-to-face interaction among students during breaks, fostering better social skills development, creativity enhancement through physical activities or arts instead of screen time, making friends naturally without digital interference.

It's time we prioritise our children's mental health over their digital connectivity at school premises. Let us create safer learning environments for our kids where they are free from cyberbullying threats and undue peer pressure from online platforms.

Please sign this petition if you agree that smartphones should be banned in high schools across the UK.