The authority is throwing its weight behind the Smartfone Free Childhood campaign.
Caredigion Council has asked the parents not to give children access to smartphones until they are 14 years old. The move has added to an already heated conversation about online safety, including a movement lobbying central government to ban social media for under-16s.
The Welsh authority’s messaging makes it clear that this is a voluntary scheme rather than official policy. It follows work throughout 2025 to improve knowledge of online risks, share guidance, promote healthier digital engagement and cut screen time. According to local news reports, the number of campuses and families signing up to the initiative is growing by the week.
‘We want to give children the best possible chance to thrive, free from the pressure of constant connectivity and potential harm,’ said Laurie Hughes, senior advisory teacher for wellbeing at Caredigion County Council.
‘This initiative is about supporting a healthy, happy childhood for every child and young person in Ceredigion,’ Hughes continued. ‘Mobile phones and social media have been a hot topic for some time, and we are starting to see shifts in attitudes and culture locally, nationally, and globally.’
Advocates of reducing or restricting young people’s access to connected devices point to studies which have shown a connection between mental wellbeing and less time spent online. Concentration levels and physical health can also be improved.
However, a number of influential organisations – including NSPCC Childnet and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation – have warned that a ban could backfire. There are widespread fears this could see threats, and young people themselves, ‘migrate to other areas online’ which are not policed by creating ‘a false sense of safety’.
‘Though well-intentioned, blanket bans on social media would fail to deliver the improvement in children’s safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need,’ read a joint statement from more than 40 groups and individuals, published on Saturday.
Australia introduced a social media ban for under-16s in December, covering platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. Soon after the law was brought in there were widespread reports suggesting under-16s were still able to access prohibited networks. Others were using VPNs – which re-route IP addresses through countries and territories which have no or fewer restrictions – to circumvent the regulation.
This is backed up by a recent poll by mental health organisation Headspace, which cites one-in-three Australian teenagers reporting that their peers are sharing ways to get around the ban. This includes changing birth dates and common ways of passing a facial age estimation test which is used by the system.
Nevertheless, The Guardian published an analysis of Australia’s social media ban on Friday, including quotes from the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The leader claims anecdotally that messaging from parents has been largely positive and the change is working. To what degree will remain unclear for some time to come.
Image: Ralph Olazo / Unsplash
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