To think we absolutely have to ban social media for under 16s.

Completely agree with OP.

There are plenty of children who aren’t addicted to smartphones. The difference is often the attitude of parents. Why are children even taking smartphones to school if they’re banned on school premises? Some schools have banned smartphones altogether, allowing only brick phones which have to be handed in at the start of the day. Yes, some try to break those rules, but they are in the minority. Parents need to take responsibility for this and not just expect government to legislate. We can’t say that children should be given free rein at 16 or 18, having been banned at 15. That will create even more problems as they won’t have been taught to use it sensibly.

This is a very good point.

You don’t see how allowing 13 year olds free access to social media already IS a disaster?

DD is 13 and still can’t download her own apps(even free ones) because she doesn’t actually have the password to her apple id account and it asks for it every time so she has to ask first. I’m sure things will change once she gets older .

So many problems with social media one video of a baby being dangerous treated on mainstream account. And social media will do nothing as not classed a violence. Which show why so much bad some happens on social media!

how exactly do you suggest this ban is policed? for whatever reason, children get access to smart phones, laptops, tablets.. and some parents are great at keeping a check on what their kids are doing, sadly a lot of parents dont really care, its keeping the child quiet and out of their hair... until it all goes tits up!

there are already loose rules in place, you have to be 13 for facebook and snapchat i think, yet plenty of 10 and 11 year olds have it?

i think things would be different if social media was a paid subscription service

Wait, you'd restrict the entire Internet for under 16s?

*vaping

Assuming it was restricted, you would have to decide what exactly was social media.

Is WhatsApp social media?
Are YouTube comments social media?
Is YouTube itself a social media platform?

Tempting maybe in the same way alcohol is but the vast majority of teens can’t gain access to alcohol on a day-to-day basis. There needs to be tight regulations that prevent under age people accessing these sites. In an ideal world they would be limited yes but this is very difficult to maintain across families and schools - you need both on board to make it effective. Schools have banned smartphones. I’m a teacher. They’re not allowed them out in school but does this prevent usage? No. They sneak them into the toilets or in corridors or out on the yard. They are addicted to them. I’d also support a smartphone ban as well as social media.

I agree there's absolutely no reason why youngsters need the internet till they are 16 it's posing more danger than anything these days leaving children wide open to all sorts.

I agree but don't know how it can be . All you have to do is enter a different date of birth and that's it, your in.
Same with smoking /raping, it's all well and good banning them, but it doesn't stop anyone from getting them.
My sons previous high school had a huge amount of kids vaping as soon as they left the school gates. We moved him from that school for various reasons and he now attends a high school that has a lot of rich kids , and you need to take an entrance exam. This school is infact worse and there is open drug use INSIDE the school that they can't get a grip on. It is very scary and luckily for me at the moment my son isn't interested as he has health anxiety so too scared to try anything. Very worrying to see this and noone seems to be able to do anything about it

Not really. That may be the case whilst they’re in primary. Once children get to their teenage years they can find ways to have social media without their parents knowing.

We need to take it further. We need to ban mobile phones for under 16’s.

It’s not just what’s on social media that is the issue, but the amount of bullying that is perpetuated via their smartphones.

Children absolutely do not need a mobile phone. We’ve been conditioned into believing that they do. That we need to be able to be in touch with then at all times, that we need to be able to track their every move. That without mobile phones they’ll become social outcasts.

We buy our children iPads at the age of 3, because parents can’t bear to teach their children table manners, or deprive them of Roblox. And so by the time they get to about 10 they’re unable to live without technology and we’ve become convinced that they need it. They don’t.

The social media companies are never going to comply. So we need to remove the means of using social media.

And yes, I know that some will say kids will just use a computer, but those aren’t nearly as portable or present as a mobile phone.

I agree and I also think kids should receive lessons in media-literacy, if they are not already, so they will be prepared to what they'll face once they do go on social media.

Let’s be honest here, a ban would only help parents who don’t want their kids on SM but don’t want to or know how to say no.
DD’s been asking for various apps since she was y3 (her friends DID indeed have the apps) I just kept saying no.

The simple solution would be to make it illegal for under 16s to have a profile, with massive fines for the social media companies and any adults aiding them.

Like buying alcohol.

You don’t see how allowing a bunch of 16 year olds free access to social media with no previous experience would be a disaster?

A total ban makes it even more tempting for teens. It’s far better to somehow ensure use is limited so it doesn’t become addictive (through schools banning smartphones and by keeping the kids busy with other things).

Not good enough. Schools teach this, lots of parents do too. It’s toxic and addictive. Young people are not old enough or rational enough to navigate that world. A ban is the only way.

Definitely

I have a teen and I’ve also found it was such a headache and faff sorting out parental controls etc on his iPhone. It honestly feels like they intentionally make sure it’s not straightforward to limit screen time etc.

I also hate the addictive video shorts that seem to be part of all social media sites now. It’s not just TikTok anymore- YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat all have those endless reels of short videos to scroll through.

Yes I know that ‘parents should parents’ id just appreciate to have better tools to make sure my children are safe as possible online, and not feel like I’m fighting against something.

I agree but I shudder to think what social media would become if it were only for OVER 16s. It’s bad enough as it is