The UK is considering banning under-16s from social media.
“On the table” is a potential ban on social media for children under 16 in the United Kingdom, according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.” Also, he declared that there was “no firm, peer-reviewed evidence” at the moment. He called for more research on the effects of technology, including social media and cellphones, on youth. Kyle has sent a “letter of strategic intent” outlining his intentions to the Online Safety Act (OSA) regulator, Ofcom, which is taking on additional authority.
According to Iona Silverman of the law firm Freeths, a possible social media ban would be “a drop in an ocean-sized problem” since teens would just discover new methods to get harmful content online. The government must adopt a broader perspective: this issue necessitates a change in culture and policy that keeps up with technology, not lags behind it,” she stated.
The curbs of smartphones
Some argue that besides limiting youths’ access to social media, there should be more regulations on how they use smartphones. Parliament is considering a private members bill that looks at ways to make kids’ digital lives safer.
A group called Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens, which advocates for restrictions on smartphones, will present evidence of it. Although the government has established guidelines to guarantee that all schools adopt effective smartphone-free regulations, it has refrained from outright prohibiting smartphones in schools.
Aping in Australia
The Australian government announced that it would introduce legislation to prevent children under 16 from social media, which has brought attention to the issue of legally banning social media for young people.
The OSA requires tech companies to be more accountable for the content on their networks to shield kids from some harmless but dangerous materials. Kyle expressed his want to see proof that internet companies were providing customers with appropriate age verification and that the industry was striving to have “safety baked in from the outset.” Failure to comply with the OSA might result in substantial fines for social media and messaging services, which could amount to billions of dollars.
Adverse social media usage
Some teenagers may have harmful effects from using social media. Perhaps:
- Take time away from workouts, family time, and homework.
- Cause sleep disturbances.
- Give rise to inaccurate or prejudiced information.
- Be used to communicate excessive amounts of personal information or to start rumors.
- Cause some teenagers to have unrealistic opinions about other people’s lives or bodies.
- Make some teenagers vulnerable to predators who may try to extort or take advantage of them online.
Three hours a day of social media use was associated with an increased risk of mental health issues in a study of children aged 12 to 15 in the United States. Data gathered from over 6,500 individuals in 2013 and 2014 served as the basis for that study.
Data on around 12,000 teenagers in England between the ages of 13 and 16 were examined in another study. Researchers discovered that kids who used social media more than three times a day were more likely to have poor mental health and well-being.
Keeping your teenager safe
You can limit some of the potential negative impacts and help your teens use social media properly.
Make use of these suggestions:
- As needed, establish guidelines and boundaries: This keeps social media from interfering with homework, meals, sleep, or activities.
- Handle any difficult behaviors: If your teen’s use of social media begins to go against your rules or your idea of what’s proper, have a conversation with them about it. You may also check your teen’s internet history or contact the parents of their buddies.
- Discuss social media with your teen regularly: You can advise your youngster on social media through regular conversations. For instance, you can teach your teen to question the accuracy of content. You can also explain why there are so many unrealistic pictures of beauty and lifestyle on social media.
- Set an example for your teenager: You may wish to discuss your personal social media usage with your youngster. This can prevent your normal conversations from becoming biased and help you set a good example.