What Could a Social Media Ban for Under-16s Mean for Young People?

Last week, the UK Government announced plans to introduce restrictions on social media access for under-16s, with further detail expected over the coming months.

At this stage, there are still important questions about how any changes would work in practice, including how age checks would operate, which platforms would be included, and what support would be available to young people and families during any transition.

Our CEO, Louise Adams, was invited to talk about the proposal on Hits Radio (East Midlands).  You can can read the article here and you can listen to her radio snippet here: 

As a charity that works alongside young people across the East Midlands, we do support a ban, but we know this conversation is more complex than simply asking whether social media is “good” or “bad”.

For many young people, online spaces are where friendships happen, communities are found, interests develop and support is accessed. But we also see the pressures and risks that can come with growing up in an always-connected world.

Why is this being discussed?

Supporters of tighter restrictions point to increasing concern about the impact social media can have on children and younger teenagers during important stages of development.  There are a number of risks to young people using social media.

Mental health and wellbeing

• Young people today are growing up in environments where comparison can feel constant.
• Social media can expose children and teenagers to carefully curated versions of other people’s lives, which may contribute to pressure around appearance, achievement and fitting in.
• Many young people also describe feeling anxious about missing out ("FOMO") or staying connected, particularly when friendships and social experiences continue long after the school day ends.
• Sleep is another growing concern. Being online late into the evening can affect rest, concentration and emotional wellbeing.
• Questions have also been raised about how some platforms are designed to keep users engaged for longer periods of time, especially at younger ages when habits and routines are still developing.

Staying safe online

Young people can also face genuine safeguarding risks online.

• Exposure to grooming behaviour.
• Cyberbullying.
• Unwanted contact from adults seeking to build inappropriate relationships.
• Exposure to harmful or distressing content, including material relating to self-harm, eating disorders or extreme violence.
• Sextortion.
• Pressure to share personal information or images.
• Oversharing personal information or location data.

These experiences do not stay online; they can affect confidence, relationships, education and day-to-day wellbeing.

Growing up and developing identity

• Childhood and adolescence are important times for building confidence, identity and relationships.
• Being constantly visible online can sometimes create pressure to present a version of yourself that feels acceptable rather than authentic.
• Reduced face-to-face social skills and difficulty navigating real-world conflict or connection.
• For some young people, particularly girls and young women, appearance-focused content and unhealthy social expectations can become difficult to avoid.

At the same time, many young people use digital spaces positively and responsibly, which is why any conversation about change needs to include their voices.

What happens next?

Right now, the details are still emerging.  As this develops, it will be important that young people themselves are part of the conversation, not simply the subject of it.

Whatever the final policy looks like, there is likely to be a period of adjustment for young people, parents, schools and organisations that support them.

Meanwhile, our focus remains the same: empowering vulnerable young people to thrive.