A series of incidents linked to schoolchildren's social media usage and parental efforts to curb unrestricted smartphone access have sparked a major national debate on the issue.
And every single kid will be fine , this parents nowadays want the government to do all their job. If you dont want your kid with a phone , dont buy him a phone. Punish them and teach them to read a book or go outside to play.
It's amazing that you're such an illuminated parent, and no doubt a blessed human being who doesn't suffer social pressure, but your point is meaningless/harmful as it ignores the reality that most humans and parents suffer from social pressure.
Not sure you're arguing in good faith, as the answer to this is apparent. Of the long list of harm cellphones and social media bring to children, having a few children with cellphones within a social context (school, etc) would bring the harm anyway.
the social pressure for all to have it becomes unbearable.
So what? Humans are social animals. We live in societies. Having to adapt fit int is part of our nature. Obviously ignoring your peers preferred method of communication doesn't work and it's a good thing it doesn't because communication is the fabric of society. You could as well decide to make up your own language.
That said, individuality needs to be protected and peer pressure needs to kept in check. But you do that via parenting, teaching and maybe banning advertising aimed at minors. Not by fighting windmills.