Social media is having a negative effect on children in this country. I know this as the father of two boys; but also hearing from teachers, parents and those working with young people who are seeing its effects every day. Social media is becoming associated with bullying, mental health problems, radicalization and even suicide. Paedophiles are targeting children while posing as their peers.
It is a fact that social media algorithms push extreme and unsuitable content onto our young people. A recent study found that TikTok’s algorithm was 4,343 per cent more likely to show “toxic eating disorder” content to users already vulnerable to such issues. Tragically, we’ve seen cases where children as young as 14 have taken their own lives after viewing suicide forums or engaging in “challenges”. “Influencers” peddle views about women that belong in the middle ages. Victims of bullying at school are finding they don’t even have an escape at home anymore.
The Online Safety Act, passed under the previous Government, will tighten up the rules in what is currently a wild west for young people. It is the responsibility of the social media companies to introduce robust age verification systems and to include key measures like ID-based verification. It does, though, remain to be seen how effective its measures will be in combatting online harms.
I led the debate in Parliament this week on a petition calling for a minimum age of 16 to use social media. The petition was signed by almost 130,000 people nationwide, reflecting polling that 74 per cent of British adults agree with this proposal. I was heartened to hear that the Government are leaving all options on the table. They accept that the Online Safety Act is not the sum total of what we need to do. Speakers from all parties agreed that the status quo cannot continue.
One change that many local areas around the country are bringing in is banning smartphones in schools. John Wallace Academy in Ashford has recently done this. I conducted a straw poll on Facebook, asking local people whether they thought smart phones should be banned in schools in our area. Out of an incredible 1,985 responses, 1,471 (75 per cent) agreed.
I will certainly be raising this issue with local headteachers, who have the power to do this. This is not about being anti-tech, or anti-independence. It is about creating space for children to be children. Social media crowds out other activities that are beneficial for young people.
Social media and our young people: something needs to change
