📱 Online Safety Alert: 1 in 4 Kids Aged 5–7 Now Have Smartphones — Ofcom
A new Ofcom report has raised alarms: almost 25% of children aged 5 to 7 in the UK now own a smartphone. Yes, kids just starting school are already immersed in the digital world — often without the tools or maturity to navigate it safely.
🎥 Footage from John Wallis Academy in Kent shows groups of schoolchildren in the playground, all glued to their screens. It’s a common sight — but also a clear signal that online safety can no longer be an afterthought.
Here’s why this matters:
Children this young are vulnerable to inappropriate content, online predators, and social pressure.
Most parents have limited knowledge of digital monitoring tools.
Schools are now having to balance education with digital safeguarding.
🔐 This is a wake-up call to educators, parents, and policymakers: Digital literacy and online safety must start early — as early as phone ownership.
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