A new study from Cardiff University reveals that half of year six pupils in Wales regularly use social media platforms. The data, published by the Schools Health Research Network (SHRN), comes days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban under-16s from social media.
Survey Findings
The survey asked children about their use of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook. Despite age restrictions requiring users to be at least 13, 53.3% of girls and 49.7% of boys aged 10-11 reported using these services regularly.
Smartphone ownership among year six pupils is also high, with around three-quarters owning a device. The findings are part of the first SHRN primary school data dashboard, analyzed by Public Health Wales.
Age Trends
Social media use increases steadily through primary school. Among year three pupils (aged 7-8), 20.4% of boys and 18.6% of girls use social media. This rises year-on-year to over half by year six.
Smartphone ownership follows a similar pattern: 39% in year three, 47% in year four, 58-60% in year five, and 75-77% in year six.
Expert Concerns
Lorna Bennett, a consultant in public health for Public Health Wales, called the results a “potential concern” for children’s mental health. She warned that social media can lead to negative impacts, including heightened social pressures, exposure to harmful content, and addictive features that affect brain development.
She urged parents to monitor and restrict social media use and ensure children engage in diverse activities.
Government Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on under-16s from social media, following Australia’s example. The ban would include platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as AI chatbots. A public consultation received over 116,000 responses, with 83% of parents saying risks outweigh benefits.
The Welsh Government stated it is committed to protecting young people online and will assess the implications of the announcement.
