Keeping kids off smartphones ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

In this episode of '6 Minute English' from BBC Learning English, Neil and Beth discuss the growing concerns surrounding smartphone use, especially among children. With increasing evidence linking smartphone usage to anxiety, depression, and poor sleep, many parents are questioning whether kids are better off without a phone. The episode highlights the dilemma faced by parents, like BBC journalist Myra Anubi, who worry about the effects of smartphones on children but fear their kids will feel left out without one. It also explores the rise of the 'Smartphone Free Childhood' movement, encouraging delayed phone use until age 14.

Takeaways

• 📱 Smartphone addiction is becoming a serious concern for both adults and children.
• 😔 Studies suggest girls who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.
• 🧠 Smartphones have been linked to delayed brain development and poor sleep, especially in children.
• 📊 Approximately 60% of British children aged 8 to 11 have a smartphone.
• 💻 The average American teenager (ages 11-14) spends around nine hours a day looking at screens.
• 🤔 Parents like Myra are torn between giving their children smartphones and protecting them from harmful content.
• 👥 The 'Smartphone Free Childhood' movement encourages parents to delay giving children smartphones until age 14 and restrict social media until 16.
• 🌍 This movement has grown rapidly, with groups forming across Britain and in 18 other countries.
• 🌐 The campaign gained traction on social media, with over 100,000 people joining the community in the UK.
• 👀 The phrase 'right in front of your eyes' is used to emphasize witnessing something surprising or unexpected happening.

Q & A

What concerns does Beth express about smartphone use?

Beth is worried about her smartphone use, and there are growing concerns about the negative effects smartphones have on adults and children, including anxiety, depression, delayed brain development, and poor sleep.

How many British children aged 8 to 11 have smartphones?

Around 60% of British eight-to-eleven-year-olds have smartphones.

What was Neil's question to Beth about American teens and screen time?

Neil asked Beth how long the average American 11-to-14-year-old spends looking at a screen daily, with options of 5, 7, or 9 hours.

What was the correct answer to Neil's question about American teens' screen time?

The correct answer was 9 hours a day spent looking at a screen, which is longer than Beth's guess of 5 hours.

Why is Myra Anubi hesitant about giving her nine-year-old daughter a smartphone?

Myra is worried her daughter might spend too much time on her phone, be exposed to harmful content, or become too attached to social media. However, she also doesn't want her daughter to feel left out because her friends already have phones.

What does the phrase 'at the end of the day' mean in the context of the script?

The phrase 'at the end of the day' means after everything is considered. Myra uses it to emphasize that despite her daughter's desires, she's still only nine years old.

What does it mean when someone is 'torn' between two things?

Being 'torn' between two things means struggling to decide between two options, often causing anxiety. Myra feels torn about whether or not to give her daughter a phone.

How did the 'Smartphone Free Childhood' movement begin?

The movement started when two mums, Daisy Greenwell and Clare Fernyhough, created a WhatsApp group encouraging parents to delay giving their children smartphones until age 14 and restrict social media until 16. The group quickly gained popularity, going viral on social media.

What does it mean when something goes 'viral'?

When something goes 'viral,' it spreads rapidly and widely across the internet through social media and email.

How has the 'Smartphone Free Childhood' campaign expanded?

The campaign grew quickly in the UK, with groups springing up across the country. It has now spread to 18 countries, helping kids connect face-to-face rather than through screens.