The $30 million toe in the water

The UK government is taking action to curb smartphone use among children, with plans to advise parents against buying smartphones until secondary school.

Ministers are drafting guidelines on 'healthy screen use' for ages five to 16,following a consultation co-chaired by Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza.

De Souza has previously said pre-secondary children are too young for internet-enabled devices.

86 minutes of mindless scrolling

New data shows UK adults spend an average of four hours daily on their phones, with around 36% of that time-equivalent to 86 minutes-spent on casual, purposeless browsing.

Research commissioned by Virgin Media O2 found that this trend coincides with a record low birth rate in the UK.

Experts warn that intimate relationships are being undermined by the 'scroll hole' phenomenon,as people in the UK waste hours mindlessly browsing on their phones.

A third of couples argue about phone use

Psychotherapist Hilda Burke cautions that modern relationships and sexual intimacy are suffering due to evolving phone habits.

She notes that other studies show about a third of people argue with their partners about phone use.

Burke added that most couples she counsels admit the last thing they look at and touch at night is their device, not their partner, leading to diluted attention and difficulty focusing.

Government action to restrict smartphone access

The government is now taking action to curb smartphone use among children, with ministers drafting plans to advise parents against buying smartphones until secondary school.

The review, co-chaired by Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, will produce guidelines on 'healthy screen use' for ages five to 16.

Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who left the government over inaction on online child protection, argued that smartphones should be restricted to adults.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The Office for National Statistics reported that the birth rate in England and Wales fell for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, reaching its lowest level since 1977, reflecting a worldwide trend.

Relationship coach Lorin Krenn emphasizes that the bedroom should be a sacred space for intimacy, requiring the removal of devices.

He explains that habits harmless elsewhere become disruptive in the bedroom, especially when partners have differing needs around sleep routines, noise, and personal space.