'I can't stop using it' - under-16s have their say on possible social media ban

Iga expresses concern about generative AI possibly creating naked images of real people from a single photo, describing it as disgusting and a risk to young people.

The government committed earlier in the week to a statutory ban for phones in schools.

Laura Trott urged the government to protect children from extreme and violent content and said parents will not forgive the continued delay.

Education minister Olivia Bailey said the question is not whether the government acts but how it acts, noting the consultation goes further than amendments that would have restricted under-16s’ access.

The government is undertaking a public consultation on how to better protect children from harmful online content, including violence, misogyny, suicide and eating disorders, and is examining measures such as switching off autoplay and other feature changes.

Earlier on Wednesday, MPs in Westminster voted to reject a social media ban for under-16s for the third time.

Isaac, 13, and peers including Iga, 14; Maisie, 14; and Peace, 15, gather to discuss whether social media should be restricted or banned for under-16s. Isaac says he watches about four hours a day on TikTok, with weekends potentially longer. Iga notes seeing videos about suicidal thoughts and mental health and worries younger children may imitate language and behaviour. Maisie suggests turning off autoplay and even banning short-form video, while Peace supports age-based restrictions but not an outright ban. The group discusses potential measures for the public consultation, such as turning off autoplay, limiting infinite scroll, overnight curfews, and stronger age verification, alongside broader protections against harmful content (violence, misogyny, suicide, eating disorders). The government is conducting a public consultation on online safety as part of efforts to shield children from harmful content.

A Molly Rose Foundation survey reported that 61% of Australians aged 12-15 who had used social media before the ban still have access to one or more accounts, illustrating limited enforcement or ongoing access despite the policy.

Australia implemented an outright ban six months prior to the UK report, preventing under-16s from creating new social media accounts and deactivating existing ones on ten major platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.