Ban social media for under-16s, top teaching union urges UK government | Social media
One of England’s largest education unions has called on the government to ban social media for under-16s over concerns about mental health and concentration.
The Teachers’ Union (NASUWT) wants legislation to be tightened so that big tech firms face penalties for allowing children to access their platforms.
The online security debate came to the fore again this month when it was revealed that Elon Musk’s Grok AI tool was digitally removing clothes from women and children.
A pioneering social media ban for under-16s came into force in Australia last month, but its effectiveness has yet to be determined.
NASUWT said there was growing evidence that unregulated access to social media was harmful to children, affecting behavior at school and harming mental health. It was also stated that children were harmed by exposure to violent and sexual content.
Matt Wrack, the union’s general secretary, said: “Teachers face the effects every day of a social media environment that was not originally designed and unsuitable for children. Social media companies have shown time and time again that they will not act responsibly unless they have to.”
“If we are serious about protecting children, safeguarding their mental health and tackling the behavior crisis in our schools, a legal ban for under-16s must be urgently introduced.”
Some education leaders have previously suggested that cell phones should be banned in school buildings.
Education watchdog Oftsed also said social media was “shrinking” children’s attention spans and aggravating bad behaviour.
The NASUWT survey found that the majority of teachers reported an increase in the number of students displaying violent and abusive behavior in the past year. It surveyed its 5,800 members and 81% noticed an increase.
The survey also asked teachers whether social media was a driving force behind worsening behavior, with 59% agreeing it contributed.
When the union conducted a separate survey of 300 members asking whether they would support a legal social media ban on under-16s, 89% of respondents said they would.
“Our members tell us that social media is now one of the biggest drivers of classroom misbehavior, anxiety and apathy,” Wrack said.
“Children deserve the chance to grow, learn, and form healthy relationships without being drawn into an online world that takes advantage of their vulnerability.
“We believe the government should join other countries and help children and young people by passing a ban that will receive widespread support among parents and teachers.”
A government spokesman said: “We support headteachers to take the necessary steps to prevent disruption in our schools; backed by our guidance, the vast majority already restrict phone use during the school day so they do not disrupt learning.
“Through the Online Safety Act, we have taken some of the boldest steps around the world to ensure children have age-appropriate experiences online, requiring social media companies to protect under-18s from harmful content. We strike the right balance: protecting children from harm while ensuring they can enjoy the digital world safely.”
