Big investors have called on Apple to develop software that limits how long children can use its smartphones.<\/p>\n
The call came from two investment groups that hold $2bn (\u00a31.48bn) of Apple stock between them.<\/p>\n
A letter calling for the digital locks, signed by Jana Partners and a California teachers’ pension fund, was sent to the iPhone maker this weekend.<\/p>\n
The call for better controls was welcomed by academics studying youngsters’ use of technology.<\/p>\n
Design conflict<\/strong><\/p>\n Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) called on Apple to consider the impact excessive use of smartphones had on the mental health of young people.<\/p>\n The two are worried that if Apple does not address growing concerns about smartphone use, its stock market value and general reputation could be damaged.<\/p>\n According to a Reuters report, half of US teenagers believe they are addicted to their mobile phones\u00a0and feel the need to respond immediately to messages.<\/p>\n Sonia Livingstone, professor of social psychology at the London School of Economics, said it was good to hear the call from the investors.<\/p>\n She added there needed to be one voice between device manufacturers, social media companies and internet service providers (ISPs) on the issue of smartphone use.<\/p>\n “For a long time the concern has been to not do anything that would impact a friction-free experience,” Prof Livingstone told the BBC.<\/p>\n “Everyone would like to have a well balanced life, but the way that devices are designed currently causes a lot of conflict with parents.”<\/p>\n She called on Apple and other device manufacturers to have all notifications on smartphones switched off by default and for the creation of occasional reminders that urged youngsters to take a break from their phone after long periods of use.<\/p>\n Prof Livingstone, who also runs a\u00a0parenting blog, did question the use of the term “addiction” for those who spend a long time using a smartphone, however.<\/p>\n “Everyone will agree that there is excessive use and even obsession with smartphones, but I don’t believe it’s addiction,” she said.<\/p>\n Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Big investors have called on Apple to develop software that limits how long children can use its smartphones. The call came from two investment groups that hold $2bn (\u00a31.48bn) of Apple stock between them. A letter calling for the digital locks, signed by Jana Partners and a California teachers’ pension fund, was sent to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":389745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[224],"yoast_head":"\n