Mobile phone insurance provider, loveit coverit, surveyed parents in the UK across different topics
regarding children and smartphone use, including cyberbullying, online safety and impact on
education, as part of a wider research project collaborating with charities, schools, authorities and
governing bodies.

The survey from loveit coverit revealed that almost a quarter (24.38%) of parents felt that phones
should not be allowed in schools under any circumstances, whilst 33.87% of respondents believed
phones should be only used in emergencies. Just 1.5% felt their access should be unrestricted.
It comes as a number of secondary schools across the country are introducing strict new bans on
mobile phones from September, following an appeal from culture secretary Matthew Hancock.
As the start of the new school term approaches, it’s a subject of much debate, especially among
parents whose children are making the transition from primary to secondary school. loveit coverit’s
survey revealed that this was the age bracket during which over half of parents (53.3%) allowed their
child to have a smartphone, while 6.39% of parents said they would give a child of under 6 years old
a smartphone.
When questioned on how much time they allowed their child to use a phone each day, just over half
of respondents said under 2 hours (56.04%). 14.59% revealed they do not monitor their child’s
mobile phone use at all.
With regards to cyberbullying, the survey revealed that 14.99% of parents claimed their child had
been a victim of cyberbullying, whilst 8.79% said no, but still had suspicions their child might have
been a victim.
When asked what their biggest concerns were over their child owning a mobile phone, parents’ top-ranked fear was talking to strangers (40.96%), whilst 25.77% cited cyberbullying. Twice as many
parents were worried about theft (18.8%) than school disruption (9.7%), despite this being the main
driver towards many of the new bans. However, what most parents do not realize is that mobile phones tend to emit harmful Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation. Overexposure to such radiation can potentially cause cancer in people. This could also be considered an important reason why children have to keep away from using mobile phones for too long. However, it is practically impossible to restrain such modern devices from children. But you might consider helping your kids practice various safety measures that could provide EMF protection for your phone. A similar approach can be adapted to deal with the other perils of mobile phone usage too. The danger is always out there. Teaching children how to stay away from them could be a practical solution to the problem.

Consequently, loveit coverit conducted an online survey, investigating the varying school policies across the country.
From a sample of 100 schools, 23.4% were found to have a total ban in place. A further 26.59%
allowed pupils to use their phones with permission from a teacher, but stated that these must
otherwise stay switched off. A short confiscation of less than a week was the most common
punishment.
The full survey report can be found on the loveit coverit website, alongside related advice and
guides. Research, resources and views from teachers, schools, authorities, governing bodies and
health and wellbeing experts are also available.