We need more than just a social media ban for U16s: An insider parent’s perspective

Opinion

Regulating the use of social media needs to be implemented not only for children, but also for the adults who influence them; otherwise, real change is impossible, writes DEPT’s editorial director.

As a working parent in social media, balancing both roles can be a constant juggle. Pings and pressure can constantly come in from all angles, and when culture moves at the speed of social, you have to keep up. Whether personal or professional, creating a healthy balance between career and kids is a constant work in progress.

Responsible use of social and screen time is high on my agenda. So when I was sent a petition to support a ban on social media for under-16s amongst all the usual parent admin, I knew I wanted to support it straight away.

A no-brainer, right? A motion to protect the brains of the next generation growing up in the digital age. It’s proven that kids’ minds aren’t fully developed until their mid-twenties, with key developmental periods in their early teens. It’s not the right time to overwhelm them with addictive behaviours, algorithm dopamine hits and an average attention window of three seconds.

But first, a confession…

A career built on being chronically online

Hello, my name’s Angharad, and I’m a social media addict.

In fairness, I’ve built a 20-year career from it, being an early adopter in the early days of LiveJournal and MySpace to now leading social campaigns for brands across the whole social ecosystem.

I sometimes struggle to remember which day of the week my kids have PE, but I can tell you every trending meme from the last decade. Creating content for the internet has been a constant in my life since the early 2000s, and I have loved every moment of it.

But it’s a habit that takes hold of me from the moment that I wake up through the time I go to bed. However much I set boundaries for myself and implement a balanced approach to screen time, a large proportion of my day is spent online.

The greatest impact is almost invisible – affecting micro-moments of communication. The incidental moments that are missed as it’s easier to open your socials for a quick scroll than it is to engage with your friends and family fully when you’re tired, distracted or overwhelmed. I put my phone down to be more considerate of my company, but it’s a conscious effort.

Working parent or not, we can all relate to that habit.

A timely and crucial debate

It’s a question that is more timely than ever. The British Government launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s as part of a package intended to “protect young people’s wellbeing,” following Australia, which has already banned social media for youngsters. And while MPs have now rejected a blanket ban, the conversation about what will improve young people’s experiences online is well underway.

Spain is supporting the movement and going one step further, reportedly looking into how to hold social platforms accountable under the law for illegal, hateful, or harmful content.

Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said social media is a “failed state, a place where laws are ignored, where disinformation is worth more than truth, and half of users suffer hate speech”.

Strong words indeed, and difficult to ignore.

More than a kids’ problem

 In truth, this isn’t just a debate about children; it’s about all of us.

Yes, I do feel that change is needed, but for more than our young people. We need firm regulation and proper national attention to how the internet is affecting both children and the adults they learn from. I strongly believe we should ban social media for under-16s. But a little self-reflection is also needed, I feel.

We need social platforms to ensure that addictive behaviours are managed and disinformation is moderated. We need the Government to support schools in becoming screen-free so that students can focus with full attention. We need the news to be scrutinised and truthful, and not optimised for a three-second soundbite.

For me, I’ll never stop being a social media superfan; it’s in my DNA. It’s shaped my career, my creativity, and my view of modern culture. But being a superfan of something doesn’t mean refusing to question it.

If we want the next generation to have a healthier relationship with technology, the work we do doesn’t start with them; it starts with us.

Angharad Salazar Llewellyn is the editorial director at DEPT