From the Editors: Should you give smartphones to your children?

GIVING SMARTPHONE TO CHILDREN: A HAMLETIAN DILEMMA: What is the right age to allow a child to have access to his or her smartphone? This is a question that parents the world over are trying hard to grapple with – little short of a Hamlet tormented by a ‘to be or not to be’! Let’s face it. In this age of proliferation of digital communication platforms, it is not just impossible, but even impractical to keep a child cocooned for too long. But there is need for supervision and inculcation of a sense of responsibility in the child. This is where parents have a huge role to play. As a parent, one ought to instil this belief in a child, from an early age, that any freedom comes with a set of responsibilities and accountability. That’s the tight rope one has to walk as a parent. Easier said than done, but adopting an ostrich mentality isn’t going to help either.[COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

UK’S HARD-WON PROGRESS SLOWING DOWN: With vaccines being rolled out all over the world huge progress has been made in the fight against COVID-19. However, the battle has not been won as new data from the Imperial College London shows a slowing in the decline of infections in the UK. In January the frequency of the virus had halved in 15 days but it has halved in 31 days since then. Scientists say infection levels are still very high and that one in every 200 people is carrying the virus. This means we must continue to remain vigilant, take extra precautions to protect ourselves and each other and get vaccinated because COVID-19 is still very much here. If we can keep to the rules we will eradicate this wretched disease. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

SIX SIXES AGAIN, THIS TIME IT’S KIERON POLLARD: What does Herschelle Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh have in common? They have hit six sixes in an international over and Kieron Pollard, the West Indies captain, became the latest to join the elite club on Wednesday when he hit six sixes in an over in the opening Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka. Pollard followed in the footsteps of Gibbs (2007 World Cup against Netherlands) and Yuvraj Singh (2007 T20 World Cup against England) by achieving the rare feat. The hapless bowler was Akila Dananjaya who in his previous over had claimed a hat-trick of wickets. Earlier, Sir Gary Sobers and Ravi Shastri had achieved the feat in first class matches.[COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

MEGHAN UNDER FIRE…AGAIN: Ahead of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, a new report suggests that the duchess was a bully to some of her staff members. Some have questioned the timing of this news, pointing out how it might be a distraction as the couple are set to open up about leaving royal life and the intense scrutiny they’ve faced. Markle and Harry have tried to create a new life for themselves, one where they can thrive and raise a family. It’s only fair that they be allowed to do that on their own terms. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]