‘SMARTPHONE FREE’ VOLUNTARY PACT
Download 2025/2026 results here: Voluntary Smartphone Pact Results
Introduction
The Parents Association, with the support of the school Board of Management (BOM), introduces the following ‘Smartphone Free’ voluntary pact. Under this pact parents or guardians of children in Canal Way ETNS voluntarily agree to delay providing a smartphone until their child has left the primary school.
A survey by the PAC in November/December 2024 of all class groups in the school showed that 97% of respondents in the school community supported introducing this pact.
It is understood and respected that each family has their own priorities and opinions in relation to smart devices and social media. Introducing this pact recognises that some families may have older children who have a smart device already.
Why introduce a voluntary ‘Smartphone Free’ voluntary pact?
Increasingly research has shown the use of smart devices and social media can have negative effects on some children including the social, emotional, and educational wellbeing of children and young adults. The pact aims to delay children’s exposure to the stresses of the online world until they are mature enough and reduce the likelihood of them developing unhealthy smartphone habits.
What does research say?
There are many views on the use of smart devices and social media. Parents are encouraged to research the topics. Here are some useful links to get you started.
Useful hub for topic and related topics Research Reports | Publications | Sapien Labs
Mental Health in the Internet Enabled World Mental-State-of-the-World-2024-Online-Feb-26.pdf
CyberSafeKids Research Report 2025 – CyberSafeKids
What is the purpose of the pact?
- Aim to support parents and guardians who may face pressure to buy a smartphone for their child or to allow their child access to social media.
- Aim to provide transparency about the extent of support for delaying smartphone use in the class groups.
- Help parents and children to be aware of the age restrictions of apps that may be accessed on smartphones including Snapchat (current minimum age is 13), Tiktok (current minimum age is 13), and WhatsApp (current minimum age is 16).
- Be complementary to the schools Digital Technology Policy which covers internet use, social media and messaging services, and personal devices.
- Recognise the many benefits of technology and safe internet use and its role in education when supervised appropriately. The BOM and the school staff are committed to enhancing and developing the appropriate use of technology and the internet within the school community, including parents, by providing education around the safe use of the same.
What is the pact not intended for?
The pact is not intended to impose any action on any individual and will not involve monitoring or policing anyone’s behaviour. The pact is not mandatory. The pact is introduced as a resource to support parents/guardians based on the feedback from the school survey.
What does the pact cover?
Covered in the pact is internet-enabled smartphones.
Excluded from the pact is any device without internet access (such as ‘dumb’ or ‘brick’ mobile phone).
How do I sign the pact?
A short form can be completed at the beginning of each school year.
By completing this form, you are agreeing to delay providing your child with a smartphone until they have finished primary school.
The form asks you to indicate which class your child/children is/are in and to confirm that you agree with the pact. One form should be completed per household.
Completion of the form is completely anonymous.
It is anticipated that you will be asked to reaffirm your agreement of the pact around the start of each school year as your child/children progress through their primary education in Canal Way ETNS.
The pact is voluntary, and parents or guardians are free to withdraw at any time without any implications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Smartphone?
A smartphone or smart device is a device which can connect to the internet and access online content including social media and other apps.
What happens if I sign the pact then subsequently change my mind?
The pact is voluntary. If you alter your view and want to provide a smartphone for your child(ren) you may do so at any stage.
Digital world is changing all the time, how will the pact remain relevant?
Once the initial initiative is complete you can expect that the pact will be renewed annually at the start of each new school year. The pact will be reviewed prior to the relaunch each year to ensure it remains appropriate and relevant and to include any new resources or research. Parents and guardians will then be asked to affirm or reaffirm their commitment to the ‘‘Smartphone Free’ voluntary pact’.
Is it too late if my child has a smartphone?
As a parent/guardian it is for you to decide whether or not to continue to allow internet access if your child/children already has a smartphone. You may decide to maintain or pause your child/children’s access to their smartphone or to the internet if you feel it is appropriate for your child and your situation.
How will it impact my child if they already have a smartphone?
Children with a smartphone will remain unaffected if you decide not to sign the pact. Parents/guardians in this situation are encouraged to engage with resources as needed such as the schools Digital Technology Policy, Data Protection and Digital Consent, the Age of Digital Consent and the other resources below to support you and your child(ren).
If my child already has a smartphone what are Parental Controls and how can they help me?
Parental controls allow you to manage how long and when the device is online, what apps can be used and for how long and other settings on your child’s device such as restricting explicit content, purchases and downloads, and changes to privacy settings. The two main parental controls built into the smartphone devices are ‘Screen Time’ for Apple users and ‘Family Link’ for Android users.
Is this a ‘one-time’ thing?
It is anticipated that you will be asked to reaffirm your support of the pact each October as your child/children progresses through their primary education in Canal Way ETNS.
How do I prepare my child/children to be safe online in secondary school?
CWETNS provides education to children through the SPHE curriculum and Stay Safe programme which covers internet safety and cyberbullying. The pact supports the Department of Education and Youth guidance and school curriculum by helping parents/guardians provide children with the necessary tools to be cyber-safe when they access smart devices with similar technology.
My child needs a phone as they go home on their own from school?
The pact excludes ‘dumb’ or ‘brick’ phones that support phone calls and text messaging and provide a way to contact your child/children. The pact only applies to internet-enabled devices. The pact is voluntary and respects that each family’s situation is different.
Why isn’t the pact mandatory, age restrictions and the digital age of consent exclude most primary school children?
It is understood and respected that each family has their own priorities and opinions in relation to smart devices and social media. Introducing this pact also recognises that some families may have older children who have a smart device already.
What if people sign up to the pact but get their child a smartphone anyway?
The pact is voluntary. If you alter your view and want to purchase a smartphone for your child(ren) you may do so at any stage.
How can I teach my child about online safety if they are not using the internet?
CWETNS provides education to children through the SPHE curriculum and Stay Safe programme which covers internet safety and cyberbullying. The pact supports the Department of Education and Youth guidance and school curriculum by helping parents/guardians provide children with the necessary tools and information to be cyber-safe when they access smart devices with similar technology.
Some children will still have a smartphone and may share content with children who don’t have smartphones anyway?
Parents/guardians are reminded that the school’s policy on the use of smartphones is clear including the prohibition of smartphone use at any time during the school day. The Digital Technology Policy still applies to all children in CWETNS.
How will the pact be monitored or policed?
The pact is entirely voluntary, it will not be monitored. As a parent/guardian it is for you to decide whether or not to delay the purchase or provision of an internet-enabled device to your child/children. Transparency around the support of the ‘Smartphone Free’ voluntary pact will be made available.
What is the point if it is not mandatory or not everyone signs up to it?
The pact is entirely voluntary. It does not need to be mandatory to be effective. The pact aims to lessen or remove the pressure that a child(ren) or parents/guardians may feel to provide access to a smartphone by demonstrating that other parents are also delaying the purchase or provision. It is understood and respected that each family has their own priorities and opinions in relation to smart devices and social media.
Would it be better to just teach children about responsible usage of smartphones?
CWETNS provides education to children through the SPHE curriculum and Stay Safe programme which covers internet safety and cyberbullying. The pact supports the Department of Education and Youth guidance and school curriculum by helping parents/guardians provide children with the necessary tools and information to be cyber-safe when they access smart devices with similar technology.
Would it be better to just teach parents/guardians about parental controls and monitoring usage?
Regardless of if and when you may choose to provide your child(ren) access to a smartphone or internet-enabled device parents/guardians are encouraged to understand the parental controls available, be familiar with digital consent and be aware of the age restrictions around social media apps. More information is available in the Useful Links.
Why are the PAC involved with this, it is not their role to police what families do?
The PAC represents all of the parents and guardians of the children in CWETNS. The survey of the parent body has clearly demonstrated a desire for action in this area. The pact is entirely voluntary and there is no monitoring or policing involved. It is understood and respected that each family has their own priorities and opinions in relation to smart devices and social media.
Useful links:
Dept of Education Guide Dept of Education – Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free
Webwise Parental Advice Get Advice Archives – Webwise.ie
Digital Age of Consent Making sense of big data and the GDPR in Ireland
Safety on the Net https://www.staysafe.ie/parent_net.htm
SPHE Safety & Protection PSEC06_SPHE_curriculum.pdf
Apple parental controls Apple Support – parental controls on your child’s iPhone or iPad
Google parental controls Get started with Family Link – Google For Families Help
Cyber Safe Kids Resources Free Resources & Guides – CyberSafeKids
Parents’ Guide to A Better Internet ParentsGuideToABetterInternet.pdf
Age of Digital Consent Learn More About Data Protection And The Age of Digital Consent
Data Protection and Digital Consent DPC_ChildrensData_ParentalConsent.pdf