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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsDomestic PolicyPublic PolicyMental HealthTechnology RegulationChild SafetyDigital Literacy•••Started 4mos agoActive 3wks ago

Should the government ban the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 16?

This movement, often called 'Smartphone Free Childhood', argues that the rise in youth anxiety and cyberbullying correlates directly with the release of the first smartphone. Proponents believe government intervention is necessary because individual parents cannot fight the addictive algorithms of trillion-dollar tech companies alone. Opponents argue that a ban is unenforceable, disconnects children from their peers, and that digital literacy is a crucial skill that should be taught rather than prohibited.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 1k UK voters.

38%
Yes
62%
No
30%
Yes
47%
No
4%
Yes, but only ban them in schools to improve student focus
8%
No, parents should decide when their child is ready, not the government
3%
Yes, social media addiction is destroying the mental health of an entire generation
4%
No, force tech companies to build better parental controls instead
1%
Yes, and we should also ban social media accounts for anyone under 18
3%
No, smartphones are essential safety tools for emergencies

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 1k UK voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 1k UK voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from UK voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @BDVBLG6answered…3wks3W

No but limit their social media access

 @BDJL3HWanswered…1mo1MO

No, social media should be more strictly regulated instead

 @9WTN5BT  from Maine  answered…1mo1MO

No, others would buy them, so legislation should focus on use of smartphones instead of purchasing.

 @9WTN5BT  from Maine  answered…1mo1MO

No because they would get adults to buy so regulate use.

 @9WTN5BT  from Maine  answered…1mo1MO

No, children will just get adults to buy them so instead make laws to restrict use not sale.

 @BDH52PV answered…1mo1MO

No, only under 13

 @BDG43F9answered…1mo1MO

No, but add internet safety programs into schools to teach children to be responsible online and technologically literate.

 @BCSG7Q4answered…2mos2MO

No, but have manufacturers produce specifically limited versions that have to be linked to their responsible adults' phone.

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Active 1mo ago

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...…6yrs6Y

Should critical race theory be taught in K-12 education?

No

▲  19.8k6 replies4 agree1 disagree

About This Data

Based on 1k responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

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Cite This Poll

iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government ban the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 16?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://uk.isidewith.com/poll/5545193838

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