How do young people feel about the U16 social media ban?

  • Posted on January 24, 2026
  • By The Independent
  • 4 Views
How do young people feel about the U16 social media ban?

The UK government has begun consulting on a possible Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s, citing rising concerns about mental health, online abuse and harmful content. The Independent visited Flippgenn’s The Table, a youth-led discussion on online safety, to hear what young people think about it, with some branding the proposals as "attacking the symptoms rather than the root cause.” 16-year-old Jaan said, “I’ve had  leukemia for three years. During the whole process, I felt incredibly isolated...  connecting with friends through social media has helped me so much.” The Independent takes a closer look at an issue dividing the generations.
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The Independent

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