A powerful new smartphone ban advocacy campaign is launching. Esther Ghey is leading this urgent call. Her daughter Brianna was tragically murdered. Kate Winslet, the Oscar winner, also strongly supports this. They demand a legal ban on phones in schools. They warn current guidance creates a postcode lottery. Therefore, protection for children is inconsistent.
Therefore, Esther Ghey speaks from painful experience. Her daughter Brianna was only 16. She was a transgender girl from Warrington. Brianna became addicted to her smartphone. She was killed by two teenagers in 2023. Ghey believes a phone ban would have helped. It would have solved so many issues for her daughter. Brianna was sucked into the dangerous online world.
Furthermore, this smartphone ban advocacy highlights shocking statistics. Recent research surveyed 2,467 secondary schools. Only 11% implement a full phone ban. Just 3.5% ban phones from school grounds entirely. The government issued guidance in 2024. It said schools should prohibit phone use all day. However, it stopped short of a legal requirement.
Consequently, the campaign demands government action. It calls for a statutory ban with proper funding. Schools need money for lockable pouches. Other notable figures back the campaign. Moreover, Stephen Graham and Frank Bruno offer support. Will Young and author Jonathan Haidt also agree. They say classrooms must be free from smartphone distraction.
Furthermore, Kate Winslet adds her powerful voice. She won a Bafta for ‘I Am Ruth’. The drama shows a mother’s social media struggle. She says every child deserves a phone-free classroom. However, this protects mental health and helps realize potential. This smartphone ban advocacy focuses on child safety. Ghey wants kids to build real relationships. They should not see harmful content at school.
Brianna’s school introduced a pouch system later. Teachers noticed an immediate positive change. The dinner hall became noisy with real interaction. Children were laughing and joking together. Brianna’s own story shows the critical need. Therefore, her phone use caused 120 safeguarding issues. It also led to 116 behavior incidents. A ban could prevent similar tragedies for others.
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