A York MP has called on the government to ban social media for under-16s.
Luke Charters, Labour MP for York Outer, the move would be a necessary step to safeguard young people’s wellbeing and give them the childhood they deserve.
His call comes as ministers started a consultation on implementing just such a ban.
It follows Australia’s recent introduction stopping people under 16 accessing social media.
There’s growing concern about the harmful impact social media is having on children.
Research says more than 800,000 children under the age of five are already using social media, despite most platforms having an age restriction of 13.
Mr Charters said parents across his constituency had made clear the issue was a priority, and spoke from his own experience raising a young family locally.
“I’m a dad first and an MP second,” he said. “I have two boys under four, and like so many parents in York I find myself worrying about the world they’re growing up in.
“Social media is a big part of that worry – it can be relentless in the pressures it places on children, from unrealistic comparisons to bullying to seeing things no child should have to see.
“We’ve all heard stories of children being groomed, bullied, exploited and extorted online – and it’s totally right that we consider a social media ban for under-16s.
“We can’t afford not to act while harm is being done in plain sight. Giving our kids a safe, healthy childhood isn’t just common sense, it’s something every parent should be able to expect.”
The MP stressed that while a ban would be an important piece of the solution, it must be accompanied by broader action to strengthen online safety.
That would include better age verification, restrictions on harmful content, limits on smartphone use in schools, and support for families to manage screen time.
Mr Charters will be inviting constituents who have contacted him about this to a meeting to discuss what more we can do to protect children online.
