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ONE in four children spends more than four hours a day online — even though most schools ban phones, a report reveals.

Their growing obsession has led the Children’s Commissioner for England to warn harmful content is slipping through the net at home.

Girl holding a smartphone.
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One in four children spends more than four hours a day onlineCredit: Getty
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, speaking to young people.
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Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de SouzaCredit: Alamy

Dame Rachel de Souza argued schools were just one part of the solution and parents should be better supported in setting appropriate boundaries for screen time.

The poll found a quarter of eight to 15-year-olds spent four hours on phones, tablets and consoles each day.

Another fifth spent three to four hours a day on the devices, it also revealed.

A second poll for Dame Rachel found 90 per cent of secondary schools and 99.8 per cent of primary schools already imposed phone restrictions.

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Despite this, online safety is still a top worry for teachers.

Daniel Kebede, of the National Education Union, urged the Government to ban phones in schools.

He added that Britain should follow Australia — where social media will soon be banned for children aged under 16.

The commissioner called for the Online Safety Act to go further, saying: “It must hold technology companies to account.”

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