Milton Keynes Olympic champion highlighting 'pressures' of giving children smartphone
More than a quarter of parents let their child have a phone to stop them feeling left out, according to new research
An Olympic champion from Milton Keynes says parents are facing increasing pressures to provide their children with smartphones, amid concerns about their online safety.
New research from Uswitch indicates that 83% of parents fear about their child's digital life, with many feeling torn between safeguarding, persistent requests, and the fear of social exclusion if their child lacks access to smartphones like their friends.
It comes at a time when the government is still debating on a social media ban for under 16’s.
Father of three and Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford, said: “I think for youngsters, there is absolutely no need to have access to social media. My children will definitely not have any access to social media for a long time to come.
“I think maybe because of the way things have been me, especially since the London Games. I've seen very much both sides of it, the really malicious side and the great side of it.
“So, I want to maintain as much of that innocence for my children as I possibly can.”
The study from Uswitch involving 1,000 parents of children aged 11 to 18 revealed several motivations behind parents providing smartphones.
27% of parents said they let their child have a phone because other children in their peer group already owned phones, while 26% aimed to prevent feelings of exclusion.
Technology safety remains a key concern, with 72% of parents monitoring their child's phone use and almost half disputing or unaware that hidden browsers and VPNs can bypass parental controls.
Uswitch has launched a Safer Screens tool to help parents navigate children’s screen time and online safety.
This initiative aims to empower families to navigate the complexities of technology use, balancing cost, independence, and social factors children face.
The Olympic champion from Milton Keynes added: “I appreciate some parents will be thinking, ‘I've already given my child a phone. is the cat out the bag?’
“But in actual fact, it's about understanding what you can do with that device, how you can change the settings to make it as safe as you possibly can, and keep them away from malicious things.”