The UK government is launching a consultation this week on whether to ban social media for children under 16. The move follows Australia's implementation of a similar ban in late 2024, which garnered overwhelming public support of 74 per cent, according to a YouGov survey last month.
The proposal sparked intense debate among experts about whether protecting children from online harms outweighs the potential loss of digital access and community.
The Case for a Ban
Laura Purkess, a personal finance expert at Investing Insiders, argues the harms of social media far outweigh any benefits. She points to government research showing concerning patterns.
Just over a third of ten to 15-year-olds have accepted friend requests from strangers. A fifth have chatted to unknown people online. One in ten have received sexual messages.
Purkess contends that algorithms create distorted views damaging to mental health. She argues society is massively failing children online and that protective barriers are necessary. Research by the Anti Bullying Alliance found that almost a fifth of 11 to 15-year-olds have been bullied on social media.
The Case Against
Sam Hodges, executive director of corporate at The Romans and former head of communications at Twitter, warns the ban risks unintended consequences. It could push teens to much worse alternative platforms.
He argues the ban removes a crucial entry point for young people to find friends, cultures, communities and support.
Hodges suggests excluding teenagers from mainstream platforms could accelerate the spread of AI-generated misinformation — what he calls "AI slopmageddon" — by hindering the development of future engineers, designers and moderators. He emphasizes the need for greater digital literacy and addressing broader societal issues rather than viewing social media in isolation.
International Momentum
The public accepted Australia's ban with relief, despite initial perceptions of the measure as extreme. Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece plan to follow suit. Between 90 and 100 per cent of children aged ten go online daily, making the debate increasingly urgent across developed nations.
The UK now has what observers call a valuable opportunity to watch and learn from Australia's experience before making its own decisions.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
