In the Irish town of Greystones, parents have voluntarily agreed not to give their children smartphones until they reach secondary school age. The pact, known as the ‘It Takes A Village’ initiative, is led by the local school principal, who hopes it will curb the impact of screen time on younger children.
The initiative has drawn attention from educators and technologists as a possible model for other communities. One local parent told the BBC’s Shiona McCallum about the decision to wait, though no direct quotes were provided. The move comes amid growing concerns over the effects of excessive screen time on children’s development.
“Irish town Greystones adopts voluntary pact to delay smartphones for children until secondary school, led by school principal.”
Separately, the BBC’s Tech Life podcast also featured a woman who survived a late-night attack and was inspired to develop a wearable safety device. In another segment, an AI system was let loose to run a cafe in Sweden, with results that are yet to be fully disclosed.
The Greystones agreement is voluntary and non-binding, but it reflects a broader debate about the right age to give a child a smartphone. For now, the town’s parents are taking a collective stand, hoping that waiting until secondary school will give their children a healthier start.