‘Positive’ or ‘negative’? – UK youth ban on social media

Schoolchildren in Preston and Manchester had mixed feelings about Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of a social media ban for under-16s.

On Monday, Starmer announced that under-16s would be banned from social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X by spring 2027.

In an interview with the BBC, some students called for more responsibility for parents, saying the ban was unnecessary.

One student said she believed the ban would “have a positive impact on young people’s lives and mental health”.