Quote: “Use restrictions instead, to restrict you from what you can and can’t see depending on your age, instead of banning everything full stop.”
What has been proposed and what it means for young people.
Calls for an under-16 social media ban have gained increasing attention across the UK, driven by concerns around online harm, young people’s mental health and the influence of algorithm-driven content. Supporters argue that restricting access to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X and YouTube could reduce exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and unhealthy online behaviours.
While the intention behind this proposal is rooted in safeguarding, the implications are vast. This isn’t simply a question of restricting access to apps. It is a question of how young people communicate, build relationships, access support, express themselves and their opinions, and participate in modern society.
From a youth work perspective, this debate sits at the intersection of protection, participation, and voice. It raises important questions about how we keep young people safe online while also recognising the realities of the digital environments they already live in.
Social lives in the digital age – understanding young people’s reality.
To understand the potential impact of an under-16 social media ban, it is important to recognise the role that digital spaces play in young people’s lives today. Social media is often viewed by adults as separate from the “real world” – a place people choose to visit rather than a place they exist within. For many young people, however this distinction simply does not exist.
Watch interview with one of NE Youth’s Peer Ambassadors, Jackson, who shares his perspective on this matter. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ5Ah_MO9BK/?igsh=MXF0d2VqbThyNWl6cQ==
Digital platforms have become an extension of young people’s social lives. They are where friendships are maintained, conversations continue beyond the school day, interests are explored and communities are formed. Social media is not solely a source of entertainment; it is a space for connection, identity development and participation.
Young people move seamlessly between online and offline environments, with experiences in one often shaping experiences in the other. Restricting access to social media is therefore not simply just about limiting screen time or reducing access to content. It has the potential to affect how young people communicate, socialise, express themselves and engage within the world around them. Any discussion about regulation must begin with an understanding of the realities of young people’s digital lives.
What we see in youth work practice and what young people are saying
Through our work with young people across the North East, we regularly hear about both the benefits and challenges that social media brings. For many, social media provides opportunities that may not be available within their immediate offline environments.
At the same time, young people are also aware of the difficulties associated with online life. They talk openly about pressure to present themselves in certain ways, exposure to harmful content, online conflict, and the challenge of constantly being connected. What is striking, however, is the level of reflection many young people bring to these conversations. Rather than viewing social media as entirely positive or entirely negative, they recognise both its value and its risks.
This was reflected in discussions with young people about the proposed ban.
One 14-year-old told us:
“I won’t be able to express myself freely, because if they ban TikTok I’m not gonna have an account where I post my opinions, and if they ban Snapchat my mam wont have my location and I’ll lose all my streaks.”
This response highlights an important aspect of the debate. While concerns around safety are often central to discussions about social media, young people also view these platforms as tools for communication and maintaining their relationships. As much as it is important for young people to be able to switch the phone off, it remains equally as important to not become isolated.
The potential loss of these opportunities is something many feel should be considered alongside any safeguarding benefits. When asked what they believed would be a more effective solution, young people consistently called for stronger protections rather than complete restrictions.
As another 14 year-old explained:
“Use restrictions instead, to restrict you from what you can and can’t see depending on your age, instead of banning everything full stop.”
Another simply stated:
“Restrict not ban, banning social media won’t help teens’ mental health.”
These responses suggest that many young people are not opposed to regulation. Rather, they are calling for approaches that make digital spaces safer while still allowing them to participate, connect and have their voices heard.
What research tells us about social media and young people
Research on social media and young people’s wellbeing present a far more complex picture that public debate often suggests. Studies have identified links between excessive social media use and issues such as anxiety, disrupted sleep, exposure to harmful content and low self-esteem. However, researchers continue to emphasise that the relationship is not straightforward, and that social media alone cannot explain wider trends in young people’s mental health.
The impact of social media often depends on how platforms are used, the nature of online interactions, existing support networks and individual circumstances. For some young people, social media can contribute to pressure, comparison and negative experiences. For others, it provides opportunities for creativity, learning, self-expression and social connection.
Online communities can be particularly important for young people who may feel isolated in their offline lives. This includes young people living in rural areas, young carers, disabled young people and LGBTQ+ young people who may use digital spaces to find information, support and a sense of belonging.
The evidence therefore suggests that the question is not simply whether young people should have access to social media, but how they can engage with digital spaces safely, critically and meaningfully.
Where does the problem lie? Regulation, responsibility and platform design
When discussing online harm, it is important to consider where responsibility should sit. Much of the debate focuses on young people’s use of social media but less attention is sometimes given to the design of the platform themselves.
Many social platforms are built around systems that prioritise engagement. Personalised algorithms, endless scrolling features and recommendation systems are designed to keep users online for longer periods of time. While these features can create positive and engaging experiences, they can also increase exposure to harmful, misleading or age-inappropriate content.
From this perspective, the issue may not be young people’s presence on social media, but the environments they are being asked to navigate. A blanket ban risks placing responsibility solely on young people and families while allowing technology companies to avoid deeper accountability for how their platforms operate.
This is reflected on the views shared by young people themselves. Rather than calling for a complete ban, many advocate for stronger age-based restrictions, improved moderation, greater transparency and more effective protections from harmful content. Their suggestions shift the focus from exclusion towards safer participation.
NE Youth’s position – a youth work perspective
At NE Youth, we recognise both the opportunities and challenges that digital spaces present for young people. We understand the concerns that have led to calls for stronger protections online, particularly in relation to harmful content, exploitation, cyberbullying and mental health.
However, we also believe that young people must be included in conversations about policies that directly affect their lives. Youth work is founded on the principles of participation, empowerment and voice. Decisions made about young people should be informed by young people’s experiences, perspectives and expertise.
From a youth work perspective, safeguarding and participation should not be viewed as opposing goals. Young people deserve protection from harm, but they also deserve opportunities to connect, express themselves, access information and participation in sociality. Effective solutions must balance both priorities.
As Dan Straughan, Youth Work and Programmes Coordinator at NE Youth explains:
“The social media ban gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, what young people are exposed to through social media can be very worrying, concerning and cause more harm than good. On the other hand, it feels as though the social media ban takes away any accountability around some of the core issues. There needs to be more moderation on sites and what young people can/cannot access. With or without the ban, as youth workers we must continue to have important conversations with young people around safety, including internet safety, and prepare them for life – not pretend these things don’t exist.”
We believe greater emphasis should be placed on digital literacy, online safety education, platform accountability and age-appropriate regulation. These approaches support young people to navigate digital environments safely, recognising the important role those environments play in modern adolescence.
So where does that leave us?
The debate surrounding an under-16 social media ban raises important questions about safety, wellbeing and the responsibilities of governments, families, professionals and technology companies. While the intention to protect young people is understandable, the issue itself will be hard to solve with a simple solution.
For many young people, social media is not simply an app on a phone. It is a space where friendships are maintained, identities are explored, communities are found and voices are heard. Any policy that limits access to these spaces must carefully consider what may be lost alongside what may be gained.
The conversations we have had with young people demonstrate that they are not asking for the absence of protection, they are asking for protection that works. They want safe online environments, stronger safeguarding regulations and greater accountability from platforms, but they also want their experiences and opinions to be recognised.
As this debate continues, one thing remains clear: young people should not simply be the subject of the conversation. They should be active participants within it. Their voices, experiences and ideas must help shape the solutions designed to support them.
