One of Britain’s largest mobile phone operators warned that primary school children should not be given smartphones by their parents.

EE advises parents to give children under 11 old-fashioned brick phones or “basic” phones that can only make calls or send text messages instead.

“EE recommends that children under 11 should use non-smart devices with limited functionality, such as feature phones, ensuring they can text and make calls, but with limited access to social media or inappropriate content,” the company said.

This is believed to be the first time that a UK mobile operator has given such advice.

EE’s smartphone guide comes as parents prepare for the start of the new school year and typically face increasing pressure to buy their child a mobile phone.

Nine out of 10 children have a mobile phone by the age of 11. And although most social media platforms require a minimum age of 13, according to Ofcom, 60% of children aged between eight and 12 who use these platforms have their own profile.

The Telecommunications Authority’s report also found that three out of five secondary school-age children had been contacted online in a way that had caused them “potentially uncomfortable feelings”.

In May this year, MPs on the Education Select Committee called on the Government to consider a complete ban on smartphones for under-16s and a legal ban on mobile phone use in schools as part of a drive to limit children’s screen time.

Robin Walker, the then Conservative chairman of the committee, said excessive screen and smartphone use had a “clearly negative impact” on the wellbeing of children and young people.

For children aged 11 to 13, EE also recommended that when using a smartphone, they “enable parental controls and install a family sharing app such as Google Family Link or Apple Family Sharing, with access to social media restricted.”

The guidelines for 13- to 16-year-olds state that while smartphones are suitable, children’s access to inappropriate websites, content and platforms must be managed and restricted using parental controls.

Carolyn Bunting, chief executive of child protection charity Internet Matters, said: “Our recent research has shown that parents want to make their own decisions about their children’s technology use, but many would appreciate some guidance to help them do so.”