David Gandy calls on ‘addictive’ social media to be banned for under 16s as he reveals his two daughters won’t be allowed to model until they’re 18

David Gandy has publicly backed calls for a social media ban for under-16s as he shares the harm caused by ‘addictive’ platforms.

The 46-year-old model shares two daughters with wife Stephanie Mendoros and has backed calls for many countries to block sites such as Instagram and Snapchat for young people.

As well as affecting young people’s mental health, David said he felt the ‘unregulated’ nature of social media was contributing to the pressure on young people to change their appearance.

Pete Wicks’ speech Man Made podcastThe fashion star also shared that she will not allow her daughters, 7-year-old Matilda and 4-year-old Tabitha, to model for themselves until they turn 18 due to concerns that they will be exposed to similar unregulated content.

It comes after MPs rejected a proposed social media ban for under-16s, despite calls to improve children’s online safety; Supporters of the ban said parents were in an ‘impossible position’ about the harm their children suffered.

David explained that many of his views on social media came after discovering research showing a huge increase in mental health problems in young women.

He explained that the increase started in 2013, when social media platforms Instagram and Facebook were on the rise.

‘If it were up to me, I would ban social media like Australia, Denmark and I think Spain has done that too,’ he said.

‘It’s a very difficult thing to do but I would like to get under 16s to do it immediately because I don’t think parents and people really realize how addictive it is; This is the same addiction as cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.

‘You get the same endorphins in your head, and I think I can educate parents on how to do that. I don’t think there are any parents out there who say it’s really great, but I think there are a lot of people who are addicted, including parents, and therefore their children are addicted to it as well.

‘So I think this will solve a lot of problems because you’re saying not everything is regulated and a lot of people who think they’re right are spreading this c**p to very vulnerable young people.

‘I can also put this into the fashion industry, people ask ‘will you put your daughters into the modeling industry?’ They say, and I told them they could go into modeling at 21, or 18, which is probably a bit extreme, though.

‘Everything that parents protect our children from, you give them that, you give them access to it on the phone, but we’re very defensive about letting our children go out.

‘One of the discussions we have as parents in schools is ‘When do you want to take your children out alone or play in the park?’ and we’re not doing it because we’re afraid, but we’re all on the phone. ‘So pick up the phone and give them more freedom.’

David noted the impact of social media on men who feel pressured to maintain a certain appearance, after he and Pete discussed the dangers of toxic masculinity.

He said: ‘Where did it come from? Social media. Take the kids away from social media, leave them alone, it’s very simple, it’s that simple for me.

‘A lot of people will probably tell me I’m wrong about this, I’ve heard people say ‘oh, that’s a hard thing to do’ but so are a lot of different things.

‘Do you let your kids go to the bar and drink? Do you let them smoke? Good morning my baby.

‘So get them off of that, get them off of something that’s addictive, off of something that’s addictive, or are you addicted too and don’t want to get off of that?

‘But I think it’s the thing to do right now, and I think you’ll see the results if I tell the truth.’

The model, who has two daughters with his wife Stephanie Mendoros, also shared that he would not allow his daughters to enter the modeling industry until they turn 18.

During the interview, David also shared that he won’t start modeling until both of his daughters, whom he shares with wife Stephanie, are 18 years old.

Pete asked: ‘You have two daughters. If they went into the modeling industry knowing what you know about the industry, would that be something you’d worry about?’

David replied: ‘I don’t think the industry will exist when my children start modeling at 18. I think this is all a product of artificial intelligence.’

As Pete said: ‘Do you really think it’s going to go this way?’ the model said: ‘I’ll do it as long as it’s not edited. ‘I’m really doing this because it’s based on economics and marketing, that’s what it does, how can we save costs, and artificial intelligence is how we can save costs.’

In the end MPs voted 307 to 173 against an amendment to the Children’s Welfare and Schools Bill put forward by Conservative former minister Lord Nash after Labor whipped MPs to support an alternative proposal put forward by the Government.

A future ban could also come after the House of Commons backed the Government’s proposal to give the Secretary of State additional powers.

Australia’s world-first law, which came into force on December 10, prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having an account on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Threads, Twitch and X.

More importantly, tech firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million (£26 million) if they fail to block minors; This makes this the harshest age-based social media ban anywhere in the world.

The move sent shockwaves through the tech industry and prompted other governments to follow suit. In Germany, ministers last month ordered a committee to examine whether similar restrictions are feasible, and the report is expected to be published in autumn 2026.

Meanwhile, Malaysia announced that from January 1, 2026, social media platforms will be required to block users under the age of 16, supported by mandatory age verification checks.

Gandy’s fame reached new heights in 2007 when she starred in a Dolce & Gabbana commercial wearing only tight white pants.

She became a model in 2001 after winning a competition on This Morning, which her housemate at the time had entered.

Pete Wicks’ Man Made is now available wherever you get your podcasts.