'Island should introduce social media control law'

Oliver Westgarth said phone controls should come "from the top down"

Guernsey should introduce laws limiting children and young people's use of smartphones and social media, according to a local campaigner.

Oliver Westgarth, who is a founding member of Smartphone Free Childhood Guernsey, said the island could "lead the way".

Deputy Sally Rochester is also calling for better controls of smartphones in schools, advocating for "magnetic pouches" to be used to stop students using the devices in school hours.

Previously Deputy Paul Montague, president of the education committee said all States schools have a "clear policy" of "off and away" meaning phones should not be out while at school. The BBC has approached the committee for comment on introducing legislation.

Mr Westgarth said rules from "the top down" would empower parents and teachers.

"There'll be people who don't want to stick to it but I think we need to establish it," he said.

"We've a fairly benevolent government model, I think we can afford to have some laws like that, all we're really doing is bringing that into line with other things we know do damage."

Mr Westgarth said his concerns around social media started when his child went into secondary school.

"Two years ago I was probably fairly oblivious to the risks around smartphone use in children," he said.

"But the more I looked into it, the more I felt my son was under pressure, not by any particular person, but just the fact that all young children are starting to get smart phones.

"I realised we were going to have a real challenge to try and work out whether we should give in or try and hold out."

Rochester thinks controlling phone use is not easy: "The idea, although it has some great appeal to me of banning phones for under 16s, I think in reality it's probably quite difficult to make happen.

"Inherently I like the idea of a ban, but I think we have to be pragmatic and realistic about what we can do."

"I'm advocating for a pouch system in schools, I'd love to see a pilot run in the spring term with a pouch system. The way that works is that kids will come to school with their phones at the entrance to a school, they pop the phone in the pouch, they tap it on the magnet, it seals it for the day so that just removes the conflict.

Education said it is "very open to working with Smart Phone Free Guernsey, and the director of education is looking forward to meeting representatives next week to listen to their concerns and discuss potential steps".