Tom Gordon MP Raises Concerns over mobile phone ban in schools
24th February: during a parliamentary debate on the minimum age for social media use, Tom Gordon Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, intervened when the issue of banning mobile phones in schools was raised.
Tom expressed concern over the government’s discussion on restricting mobile phone use in schools or other settings for children. Drawing from his experience working with JDRF, a charity focused on type 1 diabetes research, he highlighted a key issue that emerged during previous government proposals to ban smart phones, which was that children with type 1 diabetes often need their phones to monitor their condition.
He warned that a blanket ban, while allowing exemptions for students with medical needs or other responsibilities, such as being young carers, could unintentionally stigmatise those who rely on their devices for essential reasons, singling them out for being different. Before implementing any policy, which would ban phones in schools, Tom urged the government to consider how these challenges would be addressed.
Commenting, Tom said:
‘It is crucial that we recognise not all children are the same. A one-size fits all ban could have unintended consequences, isolating those who need phones for medical or caring reasons.
‘If the government restricts phones in schools, they must ensure vulnerable students aren’t unnecessarily stigmatised.
‘People with diabetes already face stigma, the government shouldn’t introduce policies that risk making them feel even more isolated and different from their peers. The government should work to reduce diabetes stigma, not enforce policies that worsen it.’
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