A leaked proposal to ban the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 16 in Britain has sparked a debate among Conservative MPs, with some supporting the move as a way to protect children from the harmful effects of technology, while others argue it is an overreach of government authority.

The proposal, which is being considered by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aims to address concerns about the impact of social media and smartphone usage on young people’s mental health and well-being.

Some Conservative MPs, such as Miriam Cates, have expressed support for the ban, arguing that it is necessary to protect children from harm. “As conservatives know, not all change is progress,” she said. “Regulation is necessary to protect children… There is now so much evidence that smartphones and social media are causing unacceptable harm to kids.”

However, others, such as influential Westminster insider Guido Fawkes, have criticized the idea as “Orwellian” and “illiberal”, arguing that it would be difficult to enforce and would not address the root causes of the problem.

The debate has also raised questions about the role of government in regulating technology and protecting children’s well-being. While some argue that the government has a responsibility to protect children from harm, others believe that parents should be free to make their own choices about their children’s technology use.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns about the impact of technology on young people’s mental health, with recent studies suggesting a link between social media usage and increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

A recent poll found that a majority of parents agree that smartphones should be banned for under-16s, and four-fifths believe that smartphones are harmful for children.

The government has not yet commented on the proposal, but a spokesperson said that they would not comment on speculation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)