Teens Say Social Media Is Their Lifeline, Oppose Under-16 Ban

In Swansea, Wales, a group of teenagers are speaking out about the idea of banning social media for people under 16. These students, aged 13 and 14 from Morriston Comprehensive School, say that social media is a vital part of their lives. They argue that it is not fair for adults to suggest banning it, since adults did not grow up with social media and do not understand how important it is for young people today. Ruby, who is 14, explains that older people find it easy to say 'just get rid of it' because they had a childhood without social media, but for her and her friends, it has always been there.

The students admit that there are problems with social media, like seeing things they are not ready for or dealing with mean comments. However, they believe that banning social media is not the answer. Instead, they think social media companies should do more to make their platforms safer for young people. Indy, who is 13, says that growing up today means technology is everywhere, and social media is needed to survive. Ellie, also 13, thinks that the companies should control what is shown on social media, not just stop young people from using it. Alex, another student, believes that everyone has a role to play, including parents, social media companies, and the people who make content. He says there should be a compromise so that both adults and teenagers can use social media safely.

However, their headteacher, Karen Williams, has a different opinion. She sees the negative effects of social media every day at school. She talks about students having mental health problems, being bullied online, and not being able to concentrate in class. She is so worried about these problems that she does not let her own children have smartphones. Williams believes that the risks of social media are too great for young people under 16, and she supports a ban. She says that young people are not mature enough to handle the challenges that come with social media.

The Welsh government is looking at new rules to protect children from the dangers of social media. They are thinking about making companies turn off features that make social media addictive. They want to do everything they can to keep children safe online. Most school leaders who answered a survey by BBC Wales support stronger rules for social media. They say it is the biggest problem for students and causes many issues in schools. However, some teachers are not sure a ban would work, because young people are good at finding ways around rules and might end up seeing even worse things.

Ryan Davies, the headteacher at Brynteg School in Bridgend, is one of the few who does not support a ban. Even though his school had problems with harmful TikTok posts, he thinks banning social media would just make students use it in secret. He says social media can be helpful, like when students use TikTok to study or to stay connected with school. Some students at his school agree. Iris, who is 14, says social media helps young people share their opinions and learn about important topics. Ammu says it helps people find others with the same interests. Carter believes the government should focus on making companies responsible for what is on their platforms, not just punish young people. Ivor points out that kids can lie about their age to use social media, so a ban might not stop them.

Some adults, like Joshua Barron-Williams, think social media is too dangerous for children. He works with a group that wants children to use phones less. He compares social media to smoking, saying that people did not realize how harmful it was at first. He believes young people are addicted to social media, so they do not want to give it up.

The debate about social media and young people is ongoing in Wales and the UK. Some people want to ban it for those under 16, while others think it is too important to take away. Everyone agrees that keeping children safe is important, but they have different ideas about how to do it.