Across the globe, a quiet shift has taken place in family life.

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The moment a child is handed an iPad or smartphone, childhood begins to recede.

We have placed young minds into an uncontrolled experiment, pitched against the most sophisticated engineers in Silicon Valley. This debate is too often reduced to a simplistic choice: ban it, or teach children to use it “safely”. It is a false and misleading frame.

We do not ban children from driving or drinking; we set a minimum age because we recognise that some tools, however useful to adults, are harmful in the hands of children.

Social media belongs firmly in that category.

The instant a child goes online, they enter a system engineered to maximise engagement. Every swipe, every notification, every algorithmic prompt is designed to keep them hooked. This is not a neutral environment. It is a race for attention, and children’s eyes are the most........

© LBC