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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

209 replies

Bitethehandthatfeedsyou · 29/03/2025 06:59

I just don’t understand with all evidence that we have to say how awful it is for young people why we’re not banning in for under 16s. I’ve not spoken to 1 parent who wouldn’t be in favour of it.

I do know it’s not a silver bullet and there is ann idea that young people would be penalised for big tech not taking responsibility for exploiting children.

Quite rightly smoking, vaping and alcohol are out of bounds for under 18s and arguably access to social media and a young age is as harmful / more harmful than any of these.

On a cynical note too, surely it would be a huge vote winner for whichever party goes about implementing it too.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Bitethehandthatfeedsyou · 29/03/2025 07:11

MrsEmmelinePankhurst · 29/03/2025 07:07

I think this lets social media companies off the hook. And how would it work in practice? You can have all the age-checking software you want but it’s pretty easy to write down your Mum’s debit card number or take a photo of her driving licence or whatever else is needed for an online ID check…. And would we really trust Meta etc with this data?

The problem lies with the social media companies themselves, and the content they allow on their platforms - not with the age of the users. If the content isn’t suitable for a 15-year-old it won’t be suitable for a 16-year-old either!

TBH I don’t know, but it would be a start.

OP posts:
Scottishexplorer · 29/03/2025 07:11

I don’t think it’s necessary to ban. Better to teach responsible use.

xanthomelana · 29/03/2025 07:11

If parents are in favour of it then they could stop their own children from using it now. Even if they banned it completely it would still come down to the parents to make sure that kids don’t find a way around it.

LlynTegid · 29/03/2025 07:11

Even if we cannot 100% ban it, a significant reduction would make a difference. I am sure if there is a will from government, the main social media companies could be forced into making changes.

Agix · 29/03/2025 07:10

Societies rules and policies for children isn't about keeping them safe and well. It's about moulding them to become taxpayers. Smoking, drinking, sex etc is banned because those activities can lead to health issues and becoming a drain on the public finances.

Social media won't be banned. All it does really is cause mental health problems, which the governments don't believe is bad enough to need additional help or not be able to work. Perhaps the odd dead girl due to Andrew Gate fans, but society doesn't really care.

On the flipside, getting stuck into social media teaches them skills they need for the increasingly digital labour market, as well as allows them to be marketed to in the form of adverts and influencers. Kids being on social media gives another avenue to mould them.

It's not going anywhere. It's too powerful a tool.

Original poster
Bitethehandthatfeedsyou · 29/03/2025 07:10

Mine are older now and thankfully seem relatively unscathed but my niece was relentlessly bullied on tik tok and yet she still used to post all the time. It was just like an addiction. I remember once my sister took her phone away and it was honestly like a drug addict having their fix taken away.

There is no way parents can be expected to do this on there own and it’s terrible to think of the next generation of kids having access to so many things we know damage them.

OP posts:
MrsEmmelinePankhurst · 29/03/2025 07:07

I think this lets social media companies off the hook. And how would it work in practice? You can have all the age-checking software you want but it’s pretty easy to write down your Mum’s debit card number or take a photo of her driving licence or whatever else is needed for an online ID check…. And would we really trust Meta etc with this data?

The problem lies with the social media companies themselves, and the content they allow on their platforms - not with the age of the users. If the content isn’t suitable for a 15-year-old it won’t be suitable for a 16-year-old either!

SummerDaysOnTheWay · 29/03/2025 07:05

💯 We need policy change though. Parents cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube on their own.

Deerrobin · 29/03/2025 07:04

Absolutely agree, the data around this is overwhelming at this point. There seems to be a bit of a movement in our local schools with a lot of parents holding the same opinion around smartphones/social media which really helps to implement rules around this, but we need action at a national level to really have an impact. Where there is opposition it seems to come from those with older kids who have made different decisions, almost taking it as a personal insult which is a shame as it stifles reasonable discussion.