Question follow-through · 106030

Mobile Phones: Children

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department holds on the average number of hours per day children spend on smart phones.

answeredDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Tabled
14 Jan 2026
Target answer date
19 Jan 2026
Answer
29 Jan 2026 · 15 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 14 Jan 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department holds on the average number of hours per day children spend on smart phones.

  2. 19 Jan 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 29 Jan 2026

    Answer published

    Research by the online safety regulator Ofcom found that children aged 8-14 average 3 hours a day online. Sport England report that more than 4 in 5 children participated in sporting activities each week.On 20 January, the government announced a short, sw...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: South Basildon and East Thurrock

22 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the trends of the levels of superfast broadband in (a) Orsett, (b) Bulphan, (c) Horndon-on-the-Hill and (d) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: Rural Areas

22 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with broadband providers on the adequacy of broadband (a) coverage and (b) speed in rural areas.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Mobile Phones: Children

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of 3-5 year old children owning personal mobile devices and the implications for online safety.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Mobile Phones: Children

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department provides guidance to parents on the use of smartphones and internet-enabled devices by children of pre-school age.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Social Media: Children

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of children under the age of 13 having personal social media profiles including public profile pictures on their safety.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Internet: Children

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative assessment she has made of trends in the level of online harm experienced by (a) girls and (b) boys.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Media: Education

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on improving media literacy among parents and children.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Media: Education

5 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to promote media literacy among child users.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: Prices

20 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled End to surprise phone and broadband bill hikes to help with cost of living, published on 11 February 2026, what assessment she

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: Prices

20 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled End to surprise phone and broadband bill hikes to help with cost of living, published on 11 February 2026, whether providers th

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: Prices

20 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled End to surprise phone and broadband bill hikes to help with cost of living, published on 11 February 2026, what steps her Depar

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Broadband: Prices

20 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled End to surprise phone and broadband bill hikes to help with cost of living, published on 11 February 2026, whether the Governme