Parents had the chance to hear from two speakers – Emma Martins and David Smith – before a question and answer session and a showcase of smartphone alternatives and support on how to set up parental controls with exhibitors such as Xplora, JT and Sure.
‘It’s been really positive. We have had a lot of people here,’ said organiser Emma Lawlor.
‘Our achievable goal is for all secondary schools to be smartphone-free like primary schools are.’
Mr Smith is headteacher of Fulham Boys School in London, which was one of the first state schools in the UK to ban smartphones.
Ms Martins is a data protection and ethics expert who talked about the deliberate, sophisticated business models that technology companies use to hook children on their platforms.
As well as parents, health and education professionals, a handful of deputies attended the community event.
After seeing the various alternatives, many children at the event said they would like something like the Xplora phones, or ‘brick phones’ as they called them.
‘I think they are good because you can still text your mum and dad to let them know where you are and things like that but not have social media,’ said nine-year-old Ray Falla.
‘On Xplora your parents can choose the controls, which is good.’
He said that he would like to have an Xplora phone when he is a bit older.
Twelve-year-old Robyn Archer said she thinks children should not have access to social media.
‘I think it’s good because children deserve to have a good childhood,’ she said.
Robyn said she has a smartphone but only has WhatsApp on it for messaging and that she had enjoyed spending the day off screens playing and speaking with other children.