A telecoms expert is urging parents to rethink giving smartphones to children, warning that the devices can be as addictive and damaging to young minds as cigarettes or alcohol.
Juliet Moran, director of TelephoneSystems.Cloud, said smartphones are “designed to be addictive” and can wire permanent behavioural patterns into developing brains. “There’s no need for children so young to own a smartphone,” she said. “Endless scrolling feeds content addiction by triggering dopamine hits, and with children’s brains still developing, excessive smartphone use can wire addictive behaviours into young minds permanently.”
The call comes as Ofcom figures show 97% of children own a smartphone by age 12, with nearly a quarter of five to seven-year-olds already using one2. More than 90% of schools in England have now banned smartphones during the school day, citing concerns over distraction, bullying and reduced academic performance.
Moran is advocating for a return to ‘dumbphones’—basic handsets that allow calls and texts but block internet access and social media. She argues that parental controls on smartphones are often unreliable, and that tech companies have little incentive to restrict screen time. “These phone companies want us to be glued to our phones because it benefits them,” she said. “The best thing you can do for your child is not give them a smartphone until they are at least 13.”
Moran plans to give her own daughter a dumbphone for her next birthday, allowing her to stay in touch while avoiding the risks of online content and social media. “I want her to be able to play outside and do physical activities rather than be stuck in her room scrolling through content all night,” she added.
The push for simpler devices is gaining traction. The global dumbphone market is projected to reach £8.5 billion this year, and campaign groups like Smartphone Free Childhood—now with over 150,000 members—are encouraging parents to delay smartphone access until age 145.
The group’s founders say the movement is about reclaiming childhood from digital overload, with local chapters forming across the UK to support families making the switch. Recent Ofcom research also highlights the risks of early smartphone use, including exposure to harmful content, online bullying, and sleep disruption.
Moran is urging parents to take practical steps such as banning devices from bedrooms, controlling charging times, and choosing dumbphones instead. “Children need to be outside,” she said. “Dumbphones give them the freedom to do this while allowing parents to stay in touch.”
