Should social media be banned for under-16s? Have your say as PM drops trace
The PM expressed concerns over kids screen time, and vowed to take ‘further action’ to protect children just hours after Wes Streeting expressed fears over brain development
The PM promised more action on protections for children(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Keir Starmer has claimed that “all options are on the table” over an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s.
The PM expressed concerns over kids screen time, and vowed to take “further action” to protect children. His intervention came just hours after Wes Streeting appeared to back a ban, warning social media had been unleashed on kids without anyone “understanding the consequences”. Speaking during a visit to Scotland, the PM said: “We need to better-protect children from social media.
“We’re looking at what’s happening in Australia, but all options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place, whether that’s under-16s on social media, all options on the table.
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“Or an issue I’m very concerned about, which is under-fives and screen time. And we’re the first Government to take action in relation to that, because children are turning up at school aged four to reception, having spent far too much time on screen.
“So, across the board, we will take further action to protect children.”
Last week one of the largest teaching unions, the NASUWT backed a ban claiming evidence shows unregulated access to social media is driving poorer behaviour at schools, hurting the mental health of young people and exposing them to violent and sexually-explicit content.
Speaking earlier on Thursday, the Health Secretary also expressed support for a ban. He told Sky News: “I am certainly in favour of action in this area, but I don’t want to sort of impose my view on the debate and try and silence other voices here, because I can understand silent counter arguments that talk about some of the positives of being online and some of the positive connections from social media can bring.
“The PM is interested in it because he’s a father himself, he ‘s interested in it because he cares about everyone’s children. It’s a good thing he’s encouraged debate in this area. We have allowed new technology to be unleashed without properly understanding the consequences.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is said to be considering a restriction, and officials are believed to want a decision within months, not years. Praising the Keir Starmer for consulting MPs, Mr Streeting said: “I’m really glad that the Prime Minister has said to Labour MPs that nothing should be ruled out, this is an enormous challenge and one we’ve got to get right. I really worry as our country’s Health secretary about the impact that social media is having on the health for well-being. education, the learning and the life chances of young people.
“Whether that’s the impact of doing scrolling on on cognition and brain development, whether that’s the fact that school playground bullies now get to follow people home and bully them in their bedrooms through their screens on social media apps, whether it’s issues we know exist around body image, around grooming, around expectation.”
