Lucy Bryan, 39, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, gave her daughter Lois a tablet at age three and a phone at eight. Now 10, Lois spends up to five hours a day on social media, mainly watching make-up tutorials on YouTube. Lucy fears the Government's social media ban for under-16s, coming into force in spring 2027, will cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Mother's concerns over addiction and mood swings
Lucy says social media causes Lois to lash out and suffer mood swings. When told she cannot use her phone, Lois becomes difficult. Lucy worries about the long-term effects on her mental health. Lois admits she feels addicted and that social media changes her behaviour.
Lucy told Talk to the Press: "When I first heard the announcement, I thought it was brilliant. Then I saw how my daughter reacted; she was lashing out and having a tantrum. It made me think about what support parents are going to be given to help kids through the withdrawal symptoms."
Impact on self-image and maturity
Lois began watching make-up tutorials at age six and now wants to wear full makeup, including contour, foundation, and concealer, even to the park. She told her mother she feels "ugly" without makeup. Lucy worries about body dysmorphia and that Lois is maturing too quickly, with a mindset of a 16- or 17-year-old.
"She wants to leave the house with contour, foundation and concealer. When I tell her she's not allowed, she acts like I'm the worst parent in the world," Lucy said. "She told me she looks ugly without make-up, which really resonated with me, as she's only 10 years old."
Academic and behavioural effects
Lois actively resists going to school, preferring to stay home and watch YouTube. Her academic performance has suffered. Lucy revealed that given free rein, Lois would spend entire days glued to her phone.
Lois said: "I was so angry when I heard about the ban. I'll really miss social media, especially when I'm bored as I just go on YouTube and start scrolling through make-up videos. I can see a benefit for children's mental health, because children of this generation are just watching their phones, but in the 80s and 90s, they were playing outside all the time."
Call for government support
Lucy backs the ban but urges the Government to provide support to help parents manage children's withdrawal from social media. She compares it to taking cigarettes away from a smoker without nicotine patches. She fears children will use VPNs to bypass the ban, creating dishonesty.
"It will be like suddenly taking cigarettes off a smoker, with no nicotine patches. It's a pandemic; it's robbed kids of their childhood," Lucy said. She looks forward to 12 months after the ban, when her daughter's brain has "reset to normality."
Lucy is glad her younger daughter, Charlotte, four, will never have to go through this experience.
