The pressure is mounting on the UK government to do precisely that and ban social media platforms for under 16s. More than 60 Labour MPs have gone on record to demand that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak act now. This call comes amid growing concerns over the harmful impact of social media on children’s mental health. The heartbreaking murder of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old trans girl, galvanized these issues into the spotlight, with her mother, Esther Ghey, becoming an outspoken activist in the fight for change.
Esther Ghey, the young woman’s aunt, has urged the government to do more about the damaging effect of social media on young people and needs to show leadership. She understands that marginalized children seek out social media to find spaces with communities where they feel seen and accepted. She is the first to point out that in her daughter Brianna’s instance, excessive time on social media has supplanted her capacity to have rewarding conversations in the physical world.
The discussion of an outright social media ban for under-16s has intensified in a matter of just weeks. Proponents contend that such a measure is absolutely essential in order to protect kids from raunchy content and the dangers of the internet. The UK government is preparing to respond to a consultation on this topic this past summer. That’s hugely important and is a core piece to our ongoing conversation.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch made her party’s election pledge to prohibit access to social media for those under 16. This is a radical, truly historic policy that will be implemented if they’re able to win the next election. Badenoch’s commitment is a positive sign. Badenoch’s commitment reflects a growing recognition among political leaders of the urgency of the issue.
Since the initial announcement, the consultation has attracted support from a wide range of educational leaders. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed the government’s decision to seek input on a potential ban. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, expressed similar sentiments. He was hopeful that there may be more protection for children in the future.
Curtailing social media altogether is not the answer, some experts aren’t so sure. Dr. Holly Bear of Oxford University, who has conducted research on the effects of a social media ban, said research about a ban’s impact is ongoing. She cautioned against moving forward with the measures without understanding what they mean.
Children and Families Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has responded to parents’ fears about children’s exposure to harmful content online. She stressed that the regulation set out in the Online Safety Act was “never intended to be the final destination.” She understood that parents are right to be worried about their children’s safety on the internet.
Professor Amy Orben, director of the Digital Mental Health programme at the University of Cambridge, said there is urgent action required on this issue. Experts are pretty unanimous in their agreement that we as a society should be doing more to protect children on digital platforms. This sentiment illustrates the challenge of preserving access to social media but still trying to implement protective measures.
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson criticized the pace of the government’s actions, stating there is “no time to waste in protecting our children from social media giants.” She said that big consultation exercise could be a smokescreen to postpone urgent reforms.
Australia is at the forefront, with a groundbreaking ban expected to go into effect as soon as December 2025. Compared to international examples, this makes Australia the first country in the world to introduce such legislation.
