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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Dan Milmo, Global technology editor

UK parents join pact to withhold smartphones from children under 14

Teenage boy holding a smartphone while lying on a bed
According to Ofcom, 89% of 12-year-olds own a smartphone. Photograph: EMS-Forster-Productions/Getty Images

An online pledge to withhold smartphones from children until they are at least 14 has been signed by parents at 20% of schools across the UK, according to a campaign group.

A “parent pact” organised by Smartphone Free Childhood has been signed by at least one parent at 6,537 schools, with the signatories representing just under 35,000 children. There are 32,000 schools across the UK, including nurseries and pupil referral units.

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