Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Fourth Report - Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Education Committee
HC 118
Published 25 May 2024
Recommendations
3
Acknowledged
Strengthen cross-departmental efforts to protect children from screen addiction and online harms.
Recommendation
For children and adolescents alike the rapid rise of the use of screens and devices has come at a substantial cost and Government needs to do more across departments to protect them from addiction, online harms and the mental health …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern, but highlights the existing uncertainty in research regarding screen time and mental health impacts, noting ongoing studies and a new longitudinal study to conclude in May 2025, and references existing mobile phone guidance.
Department for Education
View Details →
5
Accepted
Para 42
Informal monitoring of school mobile phone ban prevents proper assessment and measurement.
Recommendation
Initially introducing the ban on a non-statutory basis is the right approach, but the success of the ban will depend on its implementation and how widely it is taken up. We do not agree with the Government’s approach of informally …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to build a robust evidence base on school mobile phone policies through a call for evidence and ongoing DfE omnibus surveys. It asserts that this existing data collection helps inform future actions and indicates widespread compliance with current non-statutory guidance, making a statutory ban currently unnecessary.
Department for Education
View Details →
8
Accepted
Amend guidance to detail mobile phone storage costs and permit parental contact during commute.
Recommendation
Government guidance must also set out the approximate cost of certain approaches, such as secure storage. The next Government must also ensure parents are not prevented from being able to contact their children during their commute to school. The guidance …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that its existing Mobile Phones in Schools (2024) guidance already advises schools to consider the impact on pupils travelling to and from school and to consult parents, providing a toolkit and outlining exemptions for children with SEND or medical conditions.
Department for Education
View Details →
9
Acknowledged
Para 54
Parents lack confidence managing screen time and require Government guidance and support.
Recommendation
Parents are unsure of what their children are doing online, lack confidence in being able to manage screen time, and want guidance to support them. The Government is wrong to conflate arguments about setting an exact time limit on screen …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government refers to ongoing research, including a DSIT feasibility study until May 2025, to better understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children. It highlights the Online Safety Act's requirements for online services to assess and mitigate risks to children but does not commit to providing the specific parental guidance requested by the committee.
Department for Education
View Details →
11
Acknowledged
Para 56
Revise advice for parents on screen time risks and commission healthy device use guidance.
Recommendation
Advice to parents of babies and young children should be revised to ensure it gives sufficient attention to face to face interaction and warns of the risks of screen time in reducing opportunities for this. Adults should be encouraged to …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government gives a vague commitment, stating it will give further consideration to the recommendation for a consultation, while generally recognising the importance of protecting children's personal data and engaging safely with online services.
Department for Education
View Details →
18
Deferred
Change Ofsted's PSHE evaluation to thematic reviews, not just personal development metrics.
Recommendation
Ofsted must change the way in which PSHE is evaluated during inspection. Instead of being assessed through Ofsted’s personal development metric, PSHE should be assessed through thematic reviews in the same way as other core curriculum subjects. (Paragraph 83) Online …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that Ofsted, as an independent inspectorate, is responsible for its inspection framework and already evaluates PSHE within the personal development judgement, noting that Ofsted is considering responses to a revised framework consultation.
Department for Education
View Details →
20
Accepted
Para 95
Expedite Online Safety Act implementation with Ofcom and implement robust age verification on platforms.
Recommendation
The next Government must work with Ofcom to ensure that there are no delays to implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023 and set out how it is working with Ofcom to ensure children are protected during the transition period. …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to swift implementation of the Online Safety Act, outlining specific timelines for illegal content duties (Spring 2025), children's risk assessment guidance (April 2025), and child safety duties to be fully effective by Summer 2025, including age assurance for various services.
Department for Education
View Details →
21
Deferred
Para 105
Implement robust age verification on social media platforms and urgently debate digital age of consent.
Recommendation
Although we welcome attempts by Ofcom to make platforms safer for children who use them, it is clear that the entire system surrounding the digital age of consent and how it is verified is not fit for purpose. Until there …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of protecting children's personal data and will keep the area under review, stating it will give further consideration to the committee’s recommendation for a consultation on the digital age of consent.
Department for Education
View Details →
22
Deferred
Para 106
Launch cross-government consultation on raising the digital age of consent to 16
Recommendation
The next Government must launch a consultation by the end of the year on whether 13 is a reasonable age of digital consent, or whether it should be raised. The next Government should recommend 16 as a more appropriate age. …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the current legal digital consent age of 13 and the importance of keeping this area under review. It states it will give further consideration to the committee's recommendation to launch a consultation by the end of the year on raising the age of digital consent to 16, but does not commit to it.
Department for Education
View Details →
23
Accepted
Para 107
Apply Online Safety Act penalties to social media companies breaching age verification requirements
Recommendation
Decisions made by the Government on the level of the digital age of consent must be effectively enforced. Ofcom must need to be able to go further than simply naming and shaming those who breach age verification measures. The Online …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that the Online Safety Act 2023 already provides Ofcom with robust enforcement powers, including substantial fines and criminal offences for non-compliance with child safety duties. These existing powers are deemed sufficient to ensure compliance with age verification requirements for social media companies.
Department for Education
View Details →
24
Rejected
Para 113
Children are exposed to online harms through smartphone and social media use
Recommendation
It is clear that children are exposed to online harms when using smart phones to access the internet and, in particular, social media platforms. We support calls for tighter controls on the sale of smart phones to children under 16 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the call for tighter controls on smartphone sales to under-16s, citing a lack of robust causal evidence to support such measures and stating its focus remains on the Online Safety Act, while also commissioning further evidence-building and monitoring international developments.
Department for Education
View Details →
25
Deferred
Para 114
Consult on additional smartphone measures for children under 16, including bans and controls
Recommendation
The next Government should work alongside Ofcom to consult on additional measures regarding smartphones for children under 16 years old within the first year of the new Parliament. Measures to consider should include the total ban of smartphones (internet-enabled phones) …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states there is currently a lack of evidence to support a smartphone ban for under 16s and is building evidence on the matter. It defers to Ofcom's upcoming report under the Online Safety Act, which will assess app stores and age assurance, rather than committing to its own consultation on all additional measures.
Department for Education
View Details →
26
Not Addressed
Para 115
Promote children's phones with mobile companies, restricting internet access and app downloads
Recommendation
The next Government should work with mobile phone companies and network operators to promote children’s phones, a class of phone which can be used for contact and GPS location but not access to the internet or downloading apps.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the market is considering 'children's phones' and is monitoring developments, but states its current focus is on the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act to ensure children's online safety regardless of device.
Department for Education
View Details →
28
Accepted in Part
Draw up legislation to regulate AI and protect children's data from operators
Recommendation
The next Government must draw up legislation in the first year of the new Parliament on regulating AI or risk the technology developing faster than legislation can be drawn up to control it, ultimately causing additional harm to children. AI …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government is developing targeted legislative proposals for powerful AI systems, building on existing voluntary commitments. For children's data, it commits to using secondary legislation to require the ICO to produce a Code of Practice on AI after the Data (Use and Access) Bill receives Royal Assent, which will include guidance on protecting children's data.
Department for Education
View Details →
30
Accepted in Part
Para 131
Produce risk assessment on edtech and AI in schools; Ofcom to assess safety
Recommendation
The next Government should produce a risk assessment on the use of edtech and AI in schools as soon as possible, and particularly on the extent to which it poses a risk to the security of children’s data. The safety …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it is ensuring AI products are safe for schools by publishing AI safety expectations and developing teacher guidance, due before academic year 2025-26. DfE is also funding Ofsted to gather insights on AI use and risk mitigation, and providing guidance for schools on protecting data and cybersecurity, but does not commit to a comprehensive government risk assessment or Ofcom's product-level assessment.
Department for Education
View Details →
31
Not Addressed
Para 135
Ensure government-provided education devices receive regular software updates for security and reduced e-waste
Recommendation
Since the pandemic, the Government has provided over 1.35 million laptops and tablets to schools, trusts, local authorities and further education providers for disadvantaged children and young people. Edtech has more malware than all other sectors combined, and therefore it …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government details its strategy to support schools with technology, including published digital and technology standards and a "get help buying for schools" service. However, it does not explicitly commit to ensuring that the devices it provided or other EdTech devices receive regular software updates and renewals to maintain security and reduce e-waste.
Department for Education
View Details →
32
Not Addressed
Set out funding, renewal, and disposal strategies for government-provided school digital devices.
Recommendation
Digital devices provided to schools by the Government must be maintained and kept secure through regular renewals and software updates. The Department for Education must set out a funding and renewal strategy for device management alongside a strategy for disposing …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government's response details existing support for schools, including digital standards, procurement services, and past device provision during the pandemic. However, it does not commit to setting out a new specific DfE funding and renewal strategy for device management or a strategy for disposing of digital hardware, as requested.
Department for Education
View Details →
Conclusions (15)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 25
We are extremely concerned at the level of harmful content children and young people can be exposed to online, and how it can affect their mental health, physical health and educational outcomes. This is exacerbated for certain vulnerable groups who are more likely to be negatively affected and exposed to …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern but states there is still uncertainty regarding the causal relationship between screen time and mental health. It highlights ongoing research, including a feasibility study by the University of Cambridge running until May 2025, to better understand the effects of social media and smartphones on children's developmental outcomes.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 26
The overwhelming weight of evidence submitted to us suggests that the harms of screen time and social media use significantly outweigh the benefits for young children, whereas limited use of screens and genuinely educational uses of digital technology can have benefits for older children. For this reason, screen time should …
Government Response Summary
The government states that schools already have powers and non-statutory guidance (published February 2024) to ban mobile phones, and surveys show compliance, making a statutory ban unnecessary. They will continue to build an evidence base through a call for evidence and ongoing surveys, and NIHR is funding related research.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 41
We strongly welcome the Government’s decision to implement a tougher mobile phone ban in schools in England. We welcome the fact that this includes break times and sends a clearer message than previous guidance about the benefits of having phones out of sight and reach. It is clear that a …
Government Response Summary
The government confirms it will continue to gather evidence on mobile phone policies, including through a call for evidence and ongoing DfE omnibus surveys. It explains that a statutory ban is not currently considered necessary, as existing guidance is being widely followed by schools, and refers to the non-statutory guidance published in February 2024.
6
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 43
The next Government should implement a formal monitoring mechanism to measure both the implementation and effects of the mobile phone ban. The results of this monitoring phase should be published and shared with schools. If results show that a non-statutory ban has been ineffective, the next Government must move swiftly …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on improving the evidence base for EdTech products, developing AI safety expectations, and the digital literacy curriculum, rather than addressing the recommendation to implement a formal monitoring mechanism for the mobile phone ban.
7
Conclusion
Deferred
We welcome the flexibility within the mobile phone ban guidance which allows schools to choose a process for implementation most suitable for them and the inclusion of exemptions for children with particular needs. (Paragraph 44) 48 Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on the existing RSHE curriculum, online safety guidance, and ongoing reviews of RSHE and the broader curriculum to embed digital literacy, rather than directly addressing the committee's welcome of flexibility in mobile phone ban guidance.
10
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 55
The next Government should work across departments including DHSC, DSIT, Education and the Home Office to produce guidance for parents on how to best manage and understand the impact of screen time on their children. A common sense approach would be to focus on aspects of screen time that are …
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation for parental guidance on screen time by focusing entirely on the implementation of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom's role in regulating online services, and measures to protect children from harmful content and criminal behaviour online.
12
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Para 61
There are over half a million apps claiming to be educational within leading app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play, but no quality standards for educational content or design features that apps must align with to be included in the educational category. As a consequence, parents …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the lack of quality standards and is working to improve the evidence base for EdTech products. It has appointed the Chartered College of Teaching to develop criteria for evaluating EdTech effectiveness and has published AI safety expectations, though it states it will not mandate individual products or directly set quality standards for apps in app stores.
13
Conclusion
Deferred
The next Government must commission guidance for parents and schools on the educational value of purported educational websites and apps within a year. They should also support a kitemarking scheme for educational resources found online in the first year of the new Parliament to enable parents to quickly identify the …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected, stating it is building evidence on online impacts and that Ofcom will report on app stores and age assurance regarding harmful content, but did not commit to commissioning guidance or supporting a kitemarking scheme for educational value.
14
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 74
We welcome the inclusion of digital literacy in the curriculum. However, the curriculum is not structured well enough to keep children safe online. Digital literacy is split across numerous subjects with different focuses and teachers. Teachers must grapple with a topic that is constantly evolving and comprehend numerous guidance documents …
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that guidance and support for digital literacy and online safety are being addressed, citing existing DfE guidance. It also states that further actions regarding online safety content will be determined after the ongoing RSHE review and a new independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which aims to embed digital skills.
15
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 75
The next Government must provide additional training and support for teachers delivering the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum, particularly digital literacy. The next Government should embed additional core content on online safety into the information and communication technology (ICT) training and early career framework for all teachers.
Government Response Summary
The government deflected by discussing legislative proposals for AI systems and an ICO Code of Practice on AI and children's data, without addressing the specific recommendation for additional teacher training in PSHE and digital literacy or embedding online safety into ICT training.
16
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 76
The next Government should consolidate non-statutory guidance on digital safety and curriculum content to provide a clear guide for teachers which should be complementary to Keeping Children Safe in School. Once this consolidation is complete the Department should invest in subject knowledge enhancement courses to ensure it reaches the wide …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected by detailing DfE's funding for Ofsted's insights on AI use and its published advice for schools on mitigating Generative AI risks, but did not commit to consolidating all non-statutory digital safety guidance or investing in subject knowledge enhancement courses for teachers.
17
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 82
We welcome inspections of PSHE as part of a routine Ofsted inspection. However, a subject as broad as PSHE, which covers so many different topics including digital literacy, cannot be adequately evaluated solely within the current personal development metric.
Government Response Summary
The government deflected, discussing its support services for technology use in schools and general safeguarding efforts, but did not address the committee's concern that PSHE, including digital literacy, cannot be adequately evaluated solely within Ofsted's personal development metric.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 94
The Online Safety Act 2023 will undoubtably play a role in keeping children safe from online harms. However, we are concerned that children will not feel the full protections of the Act until implementation is completed in 2026.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern by reiterating its commitment to swift and effective implementation of the Online Safety Act, detailing timelines for enforcement of illegal content duties (Spring 2025) and child safety duties to be fully effective by Summer 2025.
27
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 119
There has been a huge increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in recent years by children. This leaves users at risk of encountering new types of online harms facilitated by the use of AI. Despite this, there is currently little to no regulation of the AI market.
Government Response Summary
The government explains that AI systems will primarily be regulated at the point of use by existing regulators, while also developing targeted legislative proposals for powerful AI systems. It commits to requiring the ICO to produce a Code of Practice on AI, including guidance for children, via secondary legislation after the Data (Use and Access) Bill receives Royal Assent.
29
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 130
The UK’s edtech sector is the largest in Europe, and more schools in England are using edtech and AI than ever before. Although edtech has some benefits, we are concerned about the implications of edtech and AI on children’s data and privacy. The Online Safety Act 2023 is exempted in …
Government Response Summary
The government commits to ensuring safe use of tech and AI in schools, outlining actions such as publishing AI safety expectations, developing online resources and guidance by 2025-2026, funding Ofsted insights, and providing guidance for schools on data protection, IP, cybersecurity, and content moderation.