Mumsnet campaign demands ban on social media for under-16s | Young people
Mumsnet has launched a social media campaign to ban health warnings on cigarette packs aimed at people under 16.
The deliberately provocative national advertising campaign calls for a ban on all social media for children under 16. Images on billboards and social media include many harsh statements about health.
They claim that “three hours or more on social media increases the likelihood of young people harming themselves one day”, young people’s phone addiction doubles their risk of anxiety, social media use Increases the risk of eating disorders in young people and that addictive social media use in youth is linked to a higher risk of suicidal behavior.
The ads ask people to email their MPs and “demand a ban on social media for under-16s”.
Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, announced the launch of the campaign. He said: “Families live with the damage caused by social media every day. This isn’t about parents failing to set limits. It’s about children being exposed to products deliberately designed to be addictive. Parents watch the consequences in real time: compulsive use, loss of sleep, increased anxiety and collapsed self-esteem, while the companies responsible continue to profit.”
“The idea that this can be fixed with better parenting or more guidance is a convenient fiction. You can’t leave behind a business model built on addiction. This campaign shines a light on the damage phone addiction is doing to under-16s and calls on politicians to stop wringing their hands and take decisive action to protect children from addictive technology.”
The ads form the latest phase of Mumsnet’s Rage Against the Screen campaign, which aims to bring stronger regulation of young people’s access to social media. Research among the platform’s users in spring 2025 found that 92% of parents are concerned about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, and more than 60% believe their child is addicted to their phone or social media.
Sedona Jamieson, a student with experience with mental illness, welcomed the campaign. She said: “When I first became mentally unwell with anxiety, depression and an eating disorder at the age of 15, I turned to social media in the hope of finding support. Instead, I encountered a darker side of the internet, with so-called ‘recovery’ spaces filled with harmful content such as pro-anorexia, self-harm and suicide. Rather than offering help, these spaces risked deepening the struggles I was trying to overcome.”
“As young people, our developing brains make us particularly sensitive to what we consume online, making it imperative for digital platforms to prioritize protection and responsible content moderation.”
Last week the prime minister promised measures to block under-16s from accessing social media in “months, not years”; However, this may not mean a complete ban.
England’s children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, did not comment on the campaign. But he said measures to tighten online safety were vital, but a social media ban on under-16s would not provide an “immediate guarantee” that children would be safer online.
“Any social media bans should be implemented in a way that does not lead children to other dark parts of the internet,” he said.
A government spokesman said: “Parents are deeply concerned about the impact of social media on their children and we are determined to put this right.
“In our rapid consultation, we will cover everything from age limits to safer design features to social media bans. We are listening to a wide range of voices, from parents to teachers, young people and experts, to give young people the childhood they deserve and prepare them for the future. We will realize our plans in the summer.”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists said in a statement: “Protecting children’s mental health should be a public health priority, whether they are engaging with the world online or away from social media. This includes the provision of effective and appropriately funded child and adolescent mental health services.”
“There is a growing body of evidence showing that early and unrestricted access to social media can have a lasting, detrimental impact on young people’s mental health.
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists has long argued that the online environment can expose children to harmful content and experiences before they are developmentally ready to process them.
“Such exposure puts them at risk and may increase the likelihood of mental illness. There are also associations with suicidal thoughts, emotional dysregulation, and self-worth issues.”
“More regulation is needed for social media providers. In our view, they should be forced to share more of their anonymised data with independent researchers so that we can better understand the relationship between algorithms, online activity and mental health.”
“Parents and caregivers can also support their children by having open discussions about how to stay safe on their smartphones and online. It’s also important to balance screen time with other activities such as socialisation, exercise and sleep.”
