Turned off The digital natives who fear for kids with phones

In 2019, when Sophie* was 12, her classmates sent her "extreme and traumatising" videos that included an al-Qaida beheading, pornography and bestiality.

- Rachel Hall

In 2019, when Sophie* was 12, her classmates sent her "extreme and traumatising" videos that included an al-Qaida beheading, pornography and bestiality. She recalls an adult player in an online game persuading her to meet in person. Although her dad worked in IT, looking back she thinks: "My parents' generation simply didn't have a clue."

Now aged 18 and a student at the University of Edinburgh, she wouldn't allow her children to have a smartphone until they're adults. "As a teen I would have been the biggest advocate on everyone having a phone, but I've 100% changed my opinion," she said.

"Until you're an adult and able to recognise the many ways in which people act deviantly to advance their own interests, you should not be online. The minute there is instant messaging I think it gets dangerous."

Social media fuelled bullying at Sophie's school, including competing for likes and using anonymous confession apps to share cruel comments. She also wonders what else she might have done with the time wasted.

Sophie is one of many digital natives who are growing sceptical of the largely unfettered access to technology that they grew up with. A poll this week suggested that almost half of young people would rather live in a world where the internet did not exist, and a similar number would support a digital curfew, while nearly three-quarters felt worse about themselves after using social media.