Last week I visited The Gregson to join a really important discussion about children and smartphones.
There’s growing concern about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and how we can better protect childhood while recognising the benefits of staying connected.
It was inspiring to hear from Molly – 14, who has swapped a smartphone for a simple “brick” phone and spoken about the freedom this has given to enjoy hobbies again!
I was also really encouraged by the “Parent Pact” movement, with local families and schools working together to delay smartphones until 14 and social media until 16.
You can read more about the discussion and how to get involved here: https://www.catsmith.co.uk/latest/2026/03/24/parentpact/