UK’s Education Committee: Social media ban a must to save children’s mental health

Summary

5225961UK Parliament’s Education Committee is advocating for a statutory ban on social media for under-16s, saying “addictive” platforms are harming their development, behavior, and mental health, sometimes leading to “truly horrific consequences.”Committee chair Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said: “From bullying and misogyny to abuse and sexual exploitation, children and young people growing up today face a deluge of serious harms whenever they log on to social media. “The same platforms that connect them to their friends, or introduce them to new hobbies, are putting their mental health and wellbeing at risk.” As well as a ban, the committee also wants to see the government take action on the “addictive design elements” social media platforms incorporate into their products for under-18s, such as “infinite scrolling” content feeds, algorithmic promotion of posts, and auto-playing videos.Committee members say these features specifically lead to increased time spent in front of screens, sleep disruption, reduced attention, and behavior problems.Hayes said social media platforms are failing to take responsibility for the developmental issues to which their platforms’ designs are contributing.“In the most extreme cases, inaction can have truly horrific consequences,” she said. “Yet social media companies have not taken full responsibility for the behaviour on their platforms. “Based on the evidence my committee has received, I simply do not believe that companies who profit from interactions with children can be relied upon to self-regulate. “In schools, mobile phone use can distract children, increase the risk of behavioural problems, and ultimately undermine their education.” The Education Committee said that although it is officially calling for a ban, this should only be a “starting point,” a precursor to a far more robust regulatory framework that applies to gaming, hybrid platforms, messaging services, and AI platforms, in addition to social medi...