Mobile Phones Detract from Children’s Childhoods, Says Father of Slain Teen

Stuart Stephens, whose teenage son Olly Stephens was fatally stabbed, has stated that mobile phones are “taking away children’s childhoods”. Olly Stephens was ambushed in Reading in 2021 following a social media dispute. Stuart Stephens, Olly’s father, previously collaborated with the government on the Online Safety Act. He is now concentrating his efforts on a different proposed bill, designed to specifically safeguard children accessing online services and content. A government spokesperson indicated that the Online Safety Act is set to offer protections for children starting next summer. Mr. Stephens expressed his belief that earlier implementation of legal protections would “absolutely” have benefited his son. Olly was fatally stabbed by two teenage boys in a field located behind his residence. The perpetrators had used a girl recruited online to entice him to the location. The full attack was orchestrated on social media, stemming from a disagreement within a social media chat group. Mr. Stephens stated, “Before Olly passed there was no Online Safety Act, therefore there was no protection for children online.” He added, “We understand how social media works… every time a child is on a screen, flicking through a screen, doom-scrolling… it’s about making money for the companies.” He asserted that social media companies presently “act with impunity,” explaining, “They can basically duck any responsibility for what happens.” Mr. Stephens expressed a desire for schools to “phase out” phone usage among individuals under 16 years old. He commented, “The impact of social media within the school system is breaking down our children’s educations.” He further stated, “Mobile phones take away children’s childhoods, take away their imagination, take away their thirst for knowledge.” Additionally, he seeks changes regarding access to social media data. He advocated for social media data to be automatically available following a child’s death, rather than requiring a coroner’s order for its disclosure. He claimed, “That data, if it ever comes out, is incriminating to this company so they bury it,” and added, “[But] in our case it was the difference between manslaughter and murder.” Despite facing difficulties, Mr. Stephens conveyed optimism due to the ongoing open dialogue surrounding the matter. He remarked, “We’re having conversations with parents in the playground, we’re having conversations with mums at Olly’s bench, I’m having those conversations with people in the street,” concluding, “It’s having that conversation that’s the start of it all.” A government spokesperson commented, “We all want to find the best way of ensuring children are kept safe while also benefiting from the latest digital technology.” The spokesperson further noted that the Online Safety Act mandates social media companies to verify children’s ages, thereby offering parents “peace of mind about the safety of their children online.”