Charting New Courses: Spain Seeks Health Warnings on Smartphones!

Spain's expert panel on childhood and technology has suggested a suite of measures to curb the impact of digital devices on young users' health, including warning labels on smartphones and restrictions on screen time.

These advisories follow a broader European discussion on the influence of technology on children’s health. Earlier this year, a French study recommended an age limit of 13 for smartphone usage and 18 for social media access.

The Spanish committee, set up by the government and comprising of 50 experts, argues that digital exposure should be entirely negated for children under three, and strictly limited for children up to six. Between ages six and 12, “dumb phones” are recommended, enabling only calls and promoting offline activities such as sports.

The committee’s 250-page report, which is expected to influence the government's draft legislation on protecting minors, also recommends screening for technology usage and any resultant mental health issues during routine health consultations for all age groups. Moreover, it seeks to have mobile phone addiction recognized as a public health concern.

Alarmingly, a quarter of Spanish children possess mobile phones by the age of 10, and nearly half by 11.
Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, referred to this trend as an “authentic epidemic” of children’s access to online pornography.

Early indications suggest the draft bill, currently in the public consultation phase, will propose raising the minimum age for social media account ownership to 16, mandating parental controls on smartphones, and unveiling a national educational campaign on safe social media usage.

- CyberBeat