Derry campaigners call for Smartphone Free Childhood

A packed audience gathered at the Guildhall this week for Derry's first Smartphone-Free Childhood event, reflecting growing local concern about the impact of smartphones on children and young people.

The event, organised by Roisin Rosborough of ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’, brought together parents, educators, health professionals and community leaders to explore what speakers described as one of the defining public health challenges of our time.

The panel included Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney of the PSNI and Dr. Claire Sinton (Paediatric doctor and Head of Smartphone-Free Childhood Derry), alongside school leaders and specialists, offering frontline insight into the impact of smartphone use on young people’s mental health, development and safety.

Attendees included representatives from schools across the city, the Youth Justice Agency and cyber security professionals, reflecting the level of concern and expertise in the room.

The scale of concern in the room reflected just how widespread this issue has become.

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A number of attendees, including key stakeholders and professionals, expressed a strong interest in further collaboration and future events, highlighting growing momentum behind the issue in the North West.

“The room brought together the right voices - from education, health, policing and wider services. What was missing was the bridge between that expertise and meaningful action, and that is where elected representatives have a vital role to play,” explained Roisin.

Oran Doyle (15), a pupil at St Joseph’s Boys’ School in Derry, spoke about the positive impact removing smartphones from the school environment has had on his daily life and wellbeing. His contribution served as a powerful reminder that young people themselves are recognising the benefits.

“The response from the community was incredible," added Roisin, "I felt strongly that this was something the North West needed to be at the forefront of, and the turnout in the Guildhall shows just how important this issue is to people here.”

Dr Claire Sinton added: “The Academy of Royal Colleges declared children’s excessive smartphone and screen use a ‘public health emergency’ in January of this year. The evidence is clear - these addictive devices are causing a wide range of harmful effects on young people.

Mayor Ruairí McHugh with guest speakers, from left, Oran Doyle (St. Joseph’s Boys’ School), his teacher Mary Jo Shields, and from right, Craig Johnston, principal, Strabane Academy and Tara McDermott, speech and language therapist at the “Smartphone Free Childhood” event in Guildhall. (Photos - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

"We need a united response from parents, educators and political leaders to protect children’s brains during these crucial developmental years.

"Smartphone-Free Childhood encourages parents to delay giving children smartphones until at least 14, and social media until at least 16. This can only work if families act together, so that no child is left isolated as the only one without a smartphone.

"We are also calling on schools to become fully smartphone-free, allowing children to learn in a distraction-free environment, without the safeguarding risks these devices can present.”

The event marks the beginning of a growing movement in the North West, with increasing calls for co-ordinated action across communities, schools and policy-makers. The aim is to ensure this issue is not only discussed locally, but heard at the highest levels of government - leading to meaningful change.