Location: United Kingdom
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a ban on social media and other online protections for under 16s, the Mental Health Foundation has responded.
Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of Mental Health Foundation, said: “The mental health harms of unregulated social media have become all too apparent over the last few years. Social media companies have pursued maximising profit and attention over our children’s wellbeing and protection from harm for too long, and this is reflected in rising mental health need.
“The government is right to fight back against the damage being done by social media. A company-by-company ban, giving access to children only when they have proven to be safe by design, would have been stronger. It would incentivise good practice and harness the positive impact of the technology.
“We must be clear that an under-16 ban alone is not a fix: it cannot be the only action taken. More work is needed. We need clear focus on safety by design, and robust enforcement of existing provisions in the Online Safety Act. A key part of this is treating social media like any other potentially dangerous product: it should be proven safe before it can be given market access to children.
“We welcome the Prime Minister's acknowledgement that support for young people’s mental health in the offline world is also needed. A more attractive real life alternative to social media must be created. For example through investment in youth facilities, so we are not abandoning young people in need of community. It is particularly important that we support groups such as LGBT+ teenagers and disabled people, who have in many cases found particular value in online communities.”