Social media ban for children: 'Longer we leave it, the more harm is done'

There were warnings from MPs earlier this week with calls for urgent action to restrict "addictive" elements such as algorithms that encourage their use.

Now, as new polling from children's charity NSPPC also suggests three-quarters of children would support 'film-style' age ratings, pressure is mounting over a more definitive change.

Consultations close next week on access to social media for young people, floating a range of measures such as age restrictions or curfews against a full Australian-style ban.

Now Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), has said a rebalance is "vital" as teachers and parents cannot counter "unsafe" platforms alone.

"For too long children have been exposed to harmful content that is pushed to them by algorithms created to profit social-media companies," he said.

"On a daily basis they are viewing material promoting self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, misogyny and sexual exploitation."

The government's full consultation on the issue is to close next Tuesday, with considerations set to be heard this summer.

It comes after an Education Select Committee published its response yesterday, calling for a statutory ban for social media for under 16s.

In its report, the committee concluded online harms affecting children are “widespread, severe and systemic”.

There must also be urgent action to restrict "addictive" elements that encourage their use, MPs added, warning tech companies cannot be relied upon to self-regulate.

And children face a "deluge" of serious harms whenever they log on to social media, said committee chair Helen Hayes MP.

"In the most extreme cases, inaction can have truly horrific consequences," she said. "Ministers must take action before it is too late."

Today, two of the most senior law enforcement officers in the UK say restrictions are needed to protect children from online offenders.

Graeme Biggar, head of the National Crime Agency, and Gavin Stephens of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, warn "the longer we wait, the more children we fail".

And children's charity NSPCC has called for three key actions, with age ratings for sites, and preventions for addictive design 'tricks' such as endless scrolling or persistent notifications. It also calls for the "full force" of the law to block illegal and harmful content.

The charity's own polling suggests 74 per cent of children aged 11 to 15 would support movie and game-style age ratings for apps as a starting point.

“Tech companies have completely failed our children, continually choosing to prioritise profit over safety, with families paying the price," warned chief executive Chris Sherwood.

"Children and adults are telling us they want solutions that go beyond a social media ban."

And Mr Kebede, welcoming the select committee warnings, agreed that harms are "not accidental" but by design choices.

"It is time for the Government to listen to these calls and act," he warned. "They must raise the age to 16."

Last month, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said proposals to restrict social media for under-16s would be put forward by the summer – with plans to legislate before the end of the year. Peers have voted multiple times to press the Commons into accepting a social media ban.