Fraser Nelson vs Zoe Strimpel on banning smartphones for kids | SpectatorTV

The social media giant Meta has been criticised for lowering the minimum age of use on WhatsApp to 13. This has further ignited the debate over whether parents should ban smartphones for kids.
Spectator editor Fraser Nelson debates journalist Zoe Strimpel
// SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPECTATOR
Get 12 issues for £12, plus a free £20 John Lewis/Waitrose voucher
www.spectator.co.uk/tvoffer
// FREE PODCASTS FROM THE SPECTATOR
Hear more from The Spectator's journalists on their podcasts, covering everything from the politics of the UK, US and China, to religion, literature, lifestyle and more.
www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/
// FOLLOW US
/ spectator
/ officialspectator
/ the-spectator
/ spectator1828
/ thespectatormagazine
Theme song written and performed by Jon Barker © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker
Publisher Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by prsformusic.com
Recording © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by ppl.com

[@MasterMalrubius]

Sorry but a small segment of children playing chess is not a reason to provide children. A 24 hour a day phone habit. The fact she says these children are not paying attention in class highlights a huge reason parents need to take back control of what their children have access to.

[@just_another32]

to restrict children's freedom isnt anti libertarian freddy. it's called being an adult

[@VM-pf1mo]

Highly recommend Jonathan Haidt's book "The Anxious Generation". As for 'friendships online' he would argue that for 4 reasons they are not the same as real-life ones (e.g. because they are asynchronous and disembodied). I find Ms Strimpel's argumentation somewhat disingenious, quite relativistic and, at least in this short conversation, rather simplistic and superficial.

[@rustymcgee14455]

Completely incoherent argument for children to have access to phones.

[@neilg4208]

Does Mr Nelson ever answer letters? I've been a reader for 45 years and i wrote to him 6 weeks ago. He still hasn't replied

[@bethotoole6569]

Look... it's called parenting! The best analogy I have is my children were not allowed to watch The Simpsons.. until they were each 13 yrs old. Yes ALL their friends watched it.. and yes,, they were angry with me. Now that they're adults they both joke about it but agree I was right in preventing them. If one more kid said 'don't have a cow man' I was going to come unglued. My kids were not going to do that nonsense. Maybe if parents weren't so damn afraid of being parents and not friends things would get a bit better!!

[@michaellear6904]

Children actually like boundaries. They also need them lest they find themselves free-falling through the metaverse.

[@cbliddell]

Why is someone taking a photo of Fraser Nelson in the thumbnail?

[@mariea82]

🤣🤣🤣

[@johnsmith1474]

Kids destined to do well will have access to resources across the board; with lessons & training, experiences and exposure to education and entertainment of high quality. Kids destined to do poorly will stare at TV and hang out with poorly educated friends. A child with high access will by force of limited time spend less time on junk, and vice versa, specifics of what is banned or not will not change this.

[@kln58cub]

Cell phones are a blessing and a scourge, the worst thing that ever happened to this world. Our kids are and were not allowed cell phones until old enough to drive a car. As the parent, we set that age at 17. Many of their peers were the same. They were kept busy with sports, music, dance and chores. Yes, we are mean horrible parents. Our kids were responsible for their rooms, dishes and trash. As they grew up they helped out with gardening, laundry and mowing. have extensive books and literature to read. They have board games and puzzles. One is starting grad school, one is a college freshman, two in high school and one in middle school. They have commented on how much they would have missed out on if they had their way and were given a phone when younger. I totally understand children having phones for use walking to and from school. They need to be safe.

[@FC-PeakVersatility]

But there's a difference between needing a phone for safety (although I question whether that need is real despite having once frightened the life out of mother because I walked home having missed the bus) and a smartphone.

[@FC-PeakVersatility]

Humans need physical contact to be 'whole'. We know this because science has measured the hormonal effect of touch, amongst other things. Digital just doesn't cut it, no matter how better kids being brought up with technology are at understanding which button to press.

[@maiq5228]

Unhinged

[@lukeduke7476]

Does she work for Meta?

[@cr-iv1el]

Children have families to talk to and do not need to "chatter". I would argue her chatter is less useful.

[@cosimocub]

lady you really have no idea

[@judythompson1897]

🚩🚩🚩whatsapp is where strangers invite me too...

[@TheKiddy3]

Her hair is bizarre..

[@TheKiddy3]

Also she is insane. Girls are having their breasts cut off. How is that healthier than ever?

[@helenholdsworth6407]

In THIS day and age, you think her hair is bizarre?

[@FC-PeakVersatility]

Her lack of eye contact more so.

[@maiq5228]

The complete lack of coherent thought is moreso