Nine in 10 UK parents support an under-16 social media ban, but children aged 12 to 16 have mixed views, according to a group of preteens and teenagers who spoke to the Guardian in west London. The government consultation on children's online safety, due to report next week, is expected to introduce an under-16 age limit for 'high-risk' platforms and restrictions on features like livestreaming.
Precisa, 13, runs a deodorant business using TikTok and Instagram for marketing, and is deputy youth mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham. She opposes a blanket ban, advocating instead for tougher monitoring of harmful content and screen time limits. 'It will definitely be much, much harder to [run the business] without those apps,' she said.
Zoe, 14, uses only Snapchat and WhatsApp due to parental restrictions, and does not support a ban, feeling parental controls are sufficient. She dislikes personalised algorithms, calling them 'an invasion of privacy.' The consultation is considering age restrictions on such algorithms.
Four 12-year-olds in the group primarily use YouTube, though they dislike YouTube Kids. Sophia, 12, enjoys music and art videos on YouTube and would 'miss a lot of things' if it were blocked. Milei, 12, prefers the government not be 'too drastic,' while Accurisa, 12, supports banning unsafe material but would sign up for TikTok at 16 to connect with older friends.
Kit, 12, favours a full Australia-style ban, calling social media 'addictive' and damaging to friendship and mental health. His brother Xander, 14, opposes a ban due to educational benefits but says parents should manage use, warning that a sudden crackdown would be rejected by peers and circumvented, as seen in Australia.
