UK social media ban: What do 16 year olds really think about a social media ban?
Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to greenlight a social media ban on under-16s as MPs warn that young people are dangerously exposed to violent and sexual content online.
Momentum for an Australian-style ban grew after the House of Lords backed the move in a vote last month. This result came despite the prime minister’s efforts to prevent what would become a government defeat by opening a consultation on potential restrictions.
In a bid to reassure colleagues further, Malvern Education Minister Baroness Smith said she would introduce an amendment that would allow the government to legislate the outcome of the consultation without the need for independent legislation.
Labor MPs say they have received a huge backlash from their constituents on the issue, with most supporting the ban. Some backbenchers toldIndependent They want to see a move to restrict social media to young people in the King’s Speech, expected in May and setting out the government’s legislative priorities for the coming year.
But while politicians, parents, teachers and campaigners debate the merits of a ban, Independent I heard from three 16-year-olds who know firsthand what it’s like to grow up in the world of social media.
Gabriel Lam, founder of student-led campaign group Vote16, supports the social media ban, warning of the violent and harmful content young people are exposed to online.
While the 16-year-old admits that social media can also be a force for good, he argues that children should not have unlimited access.
Mr Lam believes a phased approach, banning under-13s entirely and allowing tightly regulated use for those aged 13 to 16, would be the best way to do this.
He said: “I think the reason why this ban is so important is because we don’t actually know the long-term negative effects of social media.
“Things like cigarettes, alcohol and movies are restricted to certain age groups because we know they are dangerous and all other products that children can use have undergone rigorous safety testing to prove they are safe.
“Social media is the only product that has not undergone rigorous safety testing to prove it is safe for young people.”
While the government is consulting on a potential ban, he said tech companies must also be held accountable and take steps to make platforms safer in the meantime.
“They certainly may be opposing big tech companies in different ways. Rather than banning social media across the board, they may be considering regulating the algorithms used on social media.”
16-year-old Jessica Morris lives in rural Scotland with no one her age nearby. For him, social media is not optional, it is the only connection with people outside of his family.
“This is part of my daily life,” he says. “The only way I can communicate with my friends online is through social media. Even if I were to make plans and go out, I can’t do that.
“I can meet them at school. But at the same time, school isn’t really a social event… So the only way I can actually talk to people is through social media.”
Ms Morris fears young people will bypass restrictions, pushing them onto more dangerous and unregulated platforms.
He said the ban would be “unhelpful” and would punish young people for problems created by adults.
Despite this, he supports taking stronger measures to protect children and prevent them from being exposed to dangerous content.
Vote16’s other founder, 16-year-old Elie Sabanci, says he has already seen the benefits of restricting social media in schools.
While he believes a blanket ban would be a difficult transition, he argues it would ultimately help children and those who have lost the ability to connect.
Sabancı said: “Banning phones in schools was difficult at first and difficult to get used to, but in the long run, communication and connection became much better.”
One of the main problems, he says, is the jealousy and unrealistic standards that social media can create between friends and groups. “It distorts the reality of what is normal, which is to think that everyone’s life is great and good things are happening and they’re the only ones struggling, which is really harmful to developing minds.
“Many people talk about how their childhood has been taken away from them because of the standard that young people set on each other, that they should be on their phones all the time and be interested in trends.
“So I think this will really give young people that sense of childhood back.”
One of the main arguments against the ban is that it will alienate young people from communities, but Amelia believes social media often acts as an escape rather than a solution for these people.
“I think it’s kind of a vicious cycle… Community has to be in person, it has to be person to person, and social media has allowed people to escape that.
“I think it’s just an excuse to say you have a community online, and when that’s removed it’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be great because people are going to be forced to find real connection.”
