The Proposition side was Alvin F and Henry C, while on the Opposition were Alfie L and Alfie O.

Alvin began with saying that with a smartphone, children will be exposed to inappropriate and unsuitable content, leading to stress and anxiety. Having a smartphone can also be addictive and spending too much time on your smartphone can affect your posture negatively. Henry says that studies have shown that smartphones pose a great physical risk like obesity, and that it disrupts your circadian rhythm, which is the 24-hour internal clock in our brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in our environment. He also says that smartphones restrict kids' social skills as they are looking at social media or playing games. This can lead to further problems in life if you don't have good social skills. Also, not having a smartphone encourages creativity as boredom leads to creativity.

On the Opposition, Alfie L said that social media apps on smartphones often have filters or a kids' version like YouTube Kids. Plus, adults can control what their child sees using Parental Controls. Alfie says that smartphones can be used to call for help and that maybe in a few years’ time, smartphones only would be used for payment instead of cash or credit cards. He says that not giving a 14-year-old a phone would be limiting their 'purchasing power.' Meanwhile, Alfie O suggests that social media apps can strengthen friendships and help kids make new ones. Social media can connect friends who perhaps live far apart and help introduce you to new people who you can ‘friend’. Smartphones can also encourage exercise with fitness apps allowing you to become more fit. Lastly, he says that kids often do have the common sense and responsibility to not watch inappropriate content if they see it.

The debate was very close, but Alvin and Henry for the Proposition side did manage to beat the Opposition team by a few points, putting them in the lead.

William W
Year 6