UK Politicians Back Ban on Social Media for Under-16s, Citing Widespread Concern Among Parents and Campaigners
A growing chorus of support is building behind a call to impose a blanket ban on social media platforms for children under the age of 16 in the UK. The plea comes as Westminster party leaders are urged to back amendment 94a to the children's wellbeing and schools bill, which would effectively restrict access to such platforms until those aged 16.
The push for this measure is backed by a number of high-profile signatories, including actor Hugh Grant, campaigner Sophie Winkleman, and Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was tragically murdered by two teenagers who had spent hours scrolling through social media. National polling by charity Parentkind found that an overwhelming 93% of parents believe social media is detrimental to the mental health of children.
Critics argue that current measures are inadequate, and that a ban would be the most effective way to mitigate the "doomscrolling" that can lead to increased anxiety and depression among young people. Lord Nash, who has proposed the amendment, claims that swift action is necessary to prevent a potential societal catastrophe.
However, not everyone is convinced. Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, has assured MPs that the government will conduct a consultation on social media regulations, with proposals for overnight curfews and guidance for parents on screen time expected to be published in the coming months.
The timing of this announcement has been met with skepticism by some, who see it as an attempt to appease Conservative backbenchers rather than taking genuine action. Beeban Kidron, a film director and technology campaigner, condemned the government's response, stating that it is "party before country" and fails to address the urgent need for legislation.
As members of the House of Lords prepare to vote on this amendment, there are indications that some Labour peers will support it, while others have expressed reservations. The fate of this proposed ban now hangs in the balance, with parents and campaigners holding their breaths as they await a response from Westminster politicians.
A growing chorus of support is building behind a call to impose a blanket ban on social media platforms for children under the age of 16 in the UK. The plea comes as Westminster party leaders are urged to back amendment 94a to the children's wellbeing and schools bill, which would effectively restrict access to such platforms until those aged 16.
The push for this measure is backed by a number of high-profile signatories, including actor Hugh Grant, campaigner Sophie Winkleman, and Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was tragically murdered by two teenagers who had spent hours scrolling through social media. National polling by charity Parentkind found that an overwhelming 93% of parents believe social media is detrimental to the mental health of children.
Critics argue that current measures are inadequate, and that a ban would be the most effective way to mitigate the "doomscrolling" that can lead to increased anxiety and depression among young people. Lord Nash, who has proposed the amendment, claims that swift action is necessary to prevent a potential societal catastrophe.
However, not everyone is convinced. Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, has assured MPs that the government will conduct a consultation on social media regulations, with proposals for overnight curfews and guidance for parents on screen time expected to be published in the coming months.
The timing of this announcement has been met with skepticism by some, who see it as an attempt to appease Conservative backbenchers rather than taking genuine action. Beeban Kidron, a film director and technology campaigner, condemned the government's response, stating that it is "party before country" and fails to address the urgent need for legislation.
As members of the House of Lords prepare to vote on this amendment, there are indications that some Labour peers will support it, while others have expressed reservations. The fate of this proposed ban now hangs in the balance, with parents and campaigners holding their breaths as they await a response from Westminster politicians.
I mean, come on... 93% of parents think social media is detrimental to mental health? No surprise there. It's like saying, "Hey, kids love playing outside, let's ban all outdoor activities!" 
The fact that we even need an amendment to the children's wellbeing bill just to restrict access to social media platforms for under-16s says a lot about our society. Are we really that concerned about what young people are doing online? 
. theres still so many factors at play here - peer pressure, cyberbullying, online safety concerns... cant we just educate kids on how to navigate this stuff instead of taking away their freedom? 
also, whats gonna happen when they get into uni or the workforce? theyre not gonna magically become experts in tech & social media? 
. But on the other hand, aren't we also kinda controlling them? Like, shouldn't they be able to learn how to navigate social media responsibly? 
. And hey, if politicians are taking this seriously, that's gotta be a good thing... right? 
. What's next, banning all screens altogether? Give me a break! 
.
. Let's hope our politicians are listening to both sides of the argument and come up with some sensible solutions 
. We don't want to stifle free speech or limit access to social media, but we also need to protect our kids from harm 
.
. Like, what's the balance? Shouldn't we just educate parents & kids on how to use it responsibly instead of takin' away their freedom online 
?
. I get that some parents are worried about the impact of social media on kids' mental health, but banning it altogether is just not the solution 
.
. I'm all for transparency and education, but a consultation isn't going to cut it 
. It's just not right 
.
. It's not like it's a new concept, and lots of parents are already super worried about their kids' mental health online 
. 93% of parents say it's detrimental? That's a pretty big number 
. And what's with the 'consultation' nonsense 
. This is supposed to be about the kids, not about party politics 
. Come on, guys, get it together! 