Don't ban social media but make it better, say students

Young people have been sharing their mixed views on a potential social media ban for under-16s in the UK at a "hackathon".

A problem-solving event at Ipswich Town Hall was organised by Volunteering Matters, with students from Northgate Sixth Form Centre.

Fifty teenagers studying law, media or politics were led through a two-hour workshop which will feed into the government consultation.

Charlie, one of the participants, said: "I wouldn't say ban it completely. There's things you can do to bring in limitations, maybe get rid of the algorithm so the content's more general and random."

The Ipswich event was one of seven "hacks" across the UK along with Edinburgh, Belfast, Caerphilly, Newcastle, Brighton and Gloucester.

The government's consultation on an outright ban ends on 26 May. It also looks into other measures designed to stop teenagers accessing addictive and harmful material.

Last year, Australia introduced a ban on under-16s accessing social media sites.

Other countries such as France, Ireland, Spain and Denmark have also been considering national age limits for social media.

Of the six young people who spoke to the BBC, only one was in favour of a total ban for under-16s.

Billy said it was "a very vast thing to take away now".

"For me, it's been quite a big part of growing up. I think it has for a lot of people our age."

Charlie agreed that a full ban was too much. "I think we're too far in to fully get rid of it, but education could help," she said.

Henry said: "I think it shouldn't be banned outright because people just find a way around it, but I think there should be restrictions... maybe ban AI-generated videos and photos."

Ingrid said: "I think that you shouldn't just ban something because there's a problem with it.

"There are lots of other solutions to this; more education or reform of the education system as a whole, getting children outside earlier, lots of things."

Edith also opposed a ban. "It just makes the incentive [to get around any ban] bigger and it's not going to work," she said.

However, Isaac was in favour of an Australian-style ban.

"There's so many problems that come from being exposed to it at a young age that then translate later in life," he said.

"For example, misinformation. That's a huge problem on social media especially for young people, because that forms their opinions and worldviews and you don't really want them to carry on through their adult life if it's not something that is necessarily true or accurate."

Ipswich became the UK's first "Town of Youth Social Action" in 2023.

The "hackathon" follows similar events in the town led by young volunteers who are #iwill ambassadors.

Stephen Skeet, director of business development and partnerships at Volunteering Matters, said: "This is a shift from youth voice to youth power.

"This is not just about asking for their opinions, but actually telling the government this is what you should absolutely put in the policy, otherwise it won't work."

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