A student from Sunderland has warned that banning children from social media would be 'a disaster' and would harm more people than it helps. Miguel Smith, who was diagnosed with agoraphobia as a teenager, said social media was a 'massive benefit' for him, helping him connect with others and overcome his condition.
Government Plans to Ban Under-16s
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The ban, expected to be in place by spring next year, aims to give 'children their childhoods back.' However, messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal would be exempt. Measures would also prevent children from chatting with adults on gaming and livestreaming platforms.
Miguel's Experience
Miguel, now 21, began experiencing panic attacks after the first Covid lockdown in 2020. 'It went from having one panic attack one week to the next week I just couldn't leave the house at all,' he said. Social media allowed him to speak to people he missed and connect with a community of others with similar experiences. 'Through those shared experiences, we were able to encourage each other,' he added.
He argued that the ban would disproportionately affect disabled children and other marginalized groups, such as transgender and LGBT individuals, who often rely on online communities for support. 'I think it's a massive shame to have that taken away,' he said.
Call for Rethink
Miguel called on the government to reconsider the ban, suggesting that focusing on dangerous algorithms and addictive content would be more effective. 'It sounds great on paper, but if you talk about it for more than a minute, it's a disaster. It hurts people more than it helps,' he said. He also warned that banning VPNs to enforce the ban would align the UK with countries like China, North Korea, and Russia.
