Whitstable Unplugged: Meeting with School Leaders

Last week, Rosie Duffield MP joined school leaders from across the Canterbury and Whitstable at an emergency meeting organised by Whitstable Unplugged, to tackle the urgent issue of unregulated smartphone use in childhood and its impact on education.

Organised in partnership with The Canterbury Academy Trust, The Whitstable School and Simon Langton School for Boys, the inaugural meeting addressed the growing impact of smartphones on pupils’ education and was attended by school leaders from schools across the district. Attendees pledged to work together as Kent leaders to find solutions that protect children and young people from potential online harms.

Rosie Duffield MP said, “We’re in a smartphone crisis, not just here in Kent but across the country, and the impact we’re seeing now could have implications for years to come. Our time to act is now, and I’m proud that we’ve come together here in Canterbury to make a positive difference. Today’s announcement is part of the solution. I’m committed to keeping this on the Parliamentary Agenda and working with colleagues to ensure we protect our young people from the harms of smartphones.”

Whitstable Unplugged is a local grassroots movement advocating for a more positive and balanced relationship with smartphones and social media in Whitstable. Whitstable Unplugged was launched to start a positive conversation about smartphones and social media for both adults and children. Find out more about their work here.