School-gate mums could swing election over smartphones, says Sophie Winkleman

Actress highlights the power of parents in influencing political decisions

Actress Sophie Winkleman has drawn attention to the significant influence of a "secret army" of school-gate mums in potentially swaying an election, urging political parties to address the harmful impact of smartphones on children. Speaking on Never Mind The Ballots, Winkleman emphasized that the issue of smartphone usage among kids is being overlooked by key political figures like Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, despite its potential as a "vote-winner."

77% of primary school parents support banning smartphones for under-16s

A recent survey revealed that 77% of primary school parents are in favor of implementing a complete ban on smartphones for children under the age of 16. Winkleman expressed concerns about the inadequacy of the Online Safety Act in addressing the negative influence of social media platforms on young minds.

Actress criticizes Online Safety Act as insufficient

In a joint piece with co-star Isy Suttie for The Sun, Winkleman described the Online Safety Act as a "bloated slow-moving fatberg" that fails to keep pace with the dangers present in the online world. She highlighted the detrimental effects of excessive screen time and rapid content consumption on children's cognitive abilities, urging for stronger protection measures for under-16s.

Call for tough protections against online content for children

Winkleman and Suttie advocate for political leaders to prioritize the well-being of children by imposing stricter regulations on access to harmful online content via smartphones. The duo's demands have garnered support from various MPs, including former teacher Miriam Cates, who underscored the need to shield young minds from the negative impacts of social media.

Addressing the mental health crisis through smartphone restrictions

Highlighting the correlation between smartphone usage and mental health issues among young people, Winkleman suggested that investing in measures to curb smartphone access could alleviate the burden on mental health services. She proposed that significant financial resources currently allocated to mental health support could be redirected by implementing a ban on smartphones for under-16s.