The Social Media Ban for Under-16s: Is It Really the Answer?

As a mum of two children at very different stages of childhood, the recent discussions around introducing a social media ban for under-16s have certainly got me thinking. Like many parents, I find myself navigating a digital world that looks very different to the one I grew up in. I work in social media, I create content for social media and I can see both the positive and negative sides of it.

My teenager has access to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, while my eight-year-old is limited to YouTube Kids. Both children consume content online, but in very different ways, and as a parent, I am constantly assessing what feels appropriate, safe and beneficial for them. When news of a potential social media ban for under-16s emerged, my initial reaction wasn’t one of celebration or concern. Instead, it prompted a much bigger question: should the government be making these decisions, or should parents?

Parental choice or Governmental law?

Personally, I believe that parents are best placed to decide when and how their children access social media. Every child is different. Some teenagers may be mature enough to navigate social platforms responsibly, while others may need more guidance and restrictions. A blanket ban doesn’t take into account individual circumstances, family values or a child’s level of maturity.

As parents, we know our children better than anyone. We understand their personalities, their vulnerabilities and their strengths. We are the ones having conversations around online safety, digital footprints and responsible behaviour. We are the ones setting boundaries, monitoring usage and stepping in when something doesn’t feel right.

That isn’t to say parenting in the digital age is easy. Far from it. Social media can offer many positives. It allows young people to stay connected with friends, explore interests, learn new skills and be part of communities they may not otherwise have access to. My teen uses social media to keep in touch with his friends, follow his favourite hobbies and stay informed about the things that matter to him. Used appropriately, these platforms can be a valuable part of modern life.

Social media channels need to up their game 

However, there is another side to the story. While parents have a responsibility to guide their children online, I also strongly believe that social media companies need to do far more to protect their users.

The reality is that harmful content, online bullying, harassment and predatory behaviour continue to exist across many platforms. Parents can supervise and educate, but we cannot monitor every interaction every second of every day. Social media companies have access to sophisticated technology, algorithms and moderation tools that should be used more effectively to identify and remove harmful behaviour before it reaches vulnerable users. No parent should have to worry that their child could be targeted by online predators, exposed to dangerous content or subjected to relentless cyberbullying simply because they have an account on a platform that claims to prioritise safety.

In my view, the focus shouldn’t solely be on restricting access. Instead, there needs to be greater accountability from the platforms themselves. Stronger age verification, better moderation, quicker responses to reports of abuse and more robust protections for young users would all be welcome steps in the right direction.

For younger children, such as my eight-year-old son, I feel comfortable with the more controlled environment of YouTube Kids, combined with active parental supervision. But as children get older, the online world inevitably becomes more complex. Rather than banning access altogether, perhaps we should be focusing on educating children, empowering parents and demanding higher standards from the companies that profit from their attention.

Technology isn’t going away. Social media isn’t going away. The challenge is finding the right balance between freedom, responsibility and protection. As a parent, I want to be the one making decisions about what my children can access and when. But I also want to know that when they do step into the online world, the platforms they’re using are doing everything possible to keep them safe. Surely that shouldn’t be too much to ask.