One of the UK's largest teaching unions has issued a stark warning, calling for a blanket ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. The NASUWT argues such a move is essential to improve concentration in schools and stem a growing crisis in young people's mental health.
Union Cites 'Behaviour Crisis' and Harmful Content
The union is urging the Government to compel major technology platforms to prevent under-16s from accessing their services. This call to action follows a similar policy enacted in Australia in December, which banned social media for the same age group.
The NASUWT contends that a growing body of evidence shows unregulated social media use is directly linked to worsening behaviour in schools, damaging mental wellbeing, and exposing children to violent and sexually explicit material. This concern is amplified by recent controversies, including the use of AI chatbots like X's Grok to generate sexualised imagery of people, including children, upon user request.
Overwhelming Support from Teachers and Public
In a 2025 survey of 5,800 of its teacher members, the NASUWT found alarming statistics. Approximately four in five (81%) educators reported an increase in pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviour. Nearly three in five (59%) believed social media was a key driver behind this behavioural decline.
A separate poll of 300 members revealed that 89% supported a statutory social media ban for under-16s. This sentiment is echoed by the public; a recent Mirror poll found 64% of people support such a ban, with only 19% opposed.
Calls for Government to 'Force' Tech Giants to Act
NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack was unequivocal in his criticism. "Teachers are dealing every day with the fallout of a social media landscape not originally designed and not suitable for children," he stated. "Social media companies have shown time and again that they will not act responsibly unless they are forced to do so."
He argued that a ban is urgently needed to safeguard children, protect their mental health, and combat the behaviour crisis in classrooms. "Children deserve the chance to grow, learn and form healthy relationships without being pulled into an online world that profits from their vulnerability," Wrack added.
The union's position has been welcomed by the National Education Union. Its General Secretary, Daniel Kebede, said social media was "robbing our children of their childhoods" and accused platforms of monetising children's insecurities and time.
The Government, however, pointed to existing measures. A spokesperson highlighted the Online Safety Act as one of the world's boldest steps to protect children online, mandating that companies shield under-18s from harmful content. They stated most schools already restrict phone use during the day and emphasised balancing protection with allowing children to benefit safely from the digital world.
Meanwhile, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has indicated she would support regulator Ofcom if it decided to block X for non-compliance with UK laws. Following scrutiny, X has since adjusted its Grok chatbot settings, restricting image manipulation requests to paid subscribers.
