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Politics
Andy Phippen, Professor of IT Ethics and Digital Rights, Bournemouth University

Should you give your child a ‘dumb’ phone? They aren’t the answer to fears over kids’ social media use

dodotone/Shutterstock

Parents concerned about the possible dangers smartphone use might have for their children are turning to “dumb phones”. These are the brick-shaped or flip phones today’s parents might have had themselves as teenagers, only capable of making calls or sending text messages and lacking access to social media apps.

Phones available include a remake of noughties classic the Nokia 3210, or new designs such as the recently released Barbie flip phone.

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