Parents will be urged not to share children's images online as part of mobile phone ban tech blitz
The Scottish government is to launch a public health campaign warning of the dangers of social media as it moves to ban mobile phones in schools
Ministers are planning an Ireland-style advertising blitz to persuade parents not to post pictures of their children online.
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan revealed the scheme as she announced the launch of a consultation on banning mobile phones in schools.
It marks a significant u-turn for the Scottish government, which has held the position headteachers are best placed to rule on phone use.
However, following significant opposition and parental pressure, new legislation is to be introduced.
Meanwhile, existing guidance is to be strengthened.
Sam Rice, leader of Smartphone Free Childhood in Scotland, a group campaigning for a mobile phone ban, welcomed the news.
Dr Rice said: “The news that there will be new legislation coming - and ahead of, that stronger guidance will be issued for the autumn term - will be a huge relief to parents across Scotland, as new S1s are due to start in just a few weeks.
"The recognition of the widespread harms that smartphones cause, and the role of schools in preventing this is something we’ve not heard from the Scottish Government before.
"But what we need to ensure is that the new legislation doesn’t just take the edge off the huge harms happening daily - but makes moves to protect children as broadly as possible. “
Ms McAllan said a new public health campaign warning of mobile phone and social media use is to be launched.
“We will also use the example of Ireland’s successful Pause Before You Post campaign to make parents and carers aware of the potential harms of ‘sharenting’ – sharing images and details of their children on social media, that can be pieced together and inadvertently create a digital footprint for young people,” she said.
While the minister said changing the law is the only way ministers can “mandate learning environments to be phone-free”, she urged schools to act now.
As a “signal of intent” ahead of the new law, the Education Secretary said “schools should move to introduce restrictions while we prepare legislation”.
Adding that the Government is working with councils and others to update the existing guidance, Ms McAllan said she would “encourage more schools to introduce restrictions ahead of a law change”.
Her plans met with substantial support from MSPs across the chamber, with Reform UK MSP Angela Ross praising the level of consultation undertaken by the Government ahead of the announcement.
However, Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher called the announcement a “damp squib”
“Until mobile phones are completely banned in schools, they will continue to play a major role in creating an unsafe environment for pupils and staff,” she said.
“Yet instead of taking action, the SNP have reached for their favourite comfort blanket and will set up another pointless talking shop.”
In a statement at Holyrood, Ms McAllan said: “We need to recognise the negative impact of mobile phones and screen time, and, frankly, protect our children and young people from that.
“That is why now is the time for phone-free learning environments.
“We owe it to our pupils and to teachers to do so, and to create an environment which is conducive to learning and teaching.”
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She said a “public health” approach to mobile phones must now be taken, saying phones in classrooms could be a “distraction” and could contribute to bullying.
Ms McAllan added there was also a “higher risk of depression, anxiety, poor sleep and poor health in adolescence that arises from smartphone use”.
The Education Secretary also used her statement to make clear her support for the UK Government’s recent consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
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